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November 6, 2024
Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, on Wednesday said that before her arrest, Hamdiya received warnings and veiled threats through phone calls for calling out the state government for its utter failure
Global human rights body, the Amnesty International, has condemned in the strongest terms, the arrest and secret arraignment of a Sokoto woman identified as Hamdiya Sidi, by the Sokoto State government for allegedly "embarrassing" the State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, on social media.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Hamdiya was arrested during the weekend on the orders of the state government.
She was subsequently arraigned secretly on Monday without having access to a lawyer nor family members, a source said.
The woman had in a video lamented about insecurity in the state.
Hamdiya had also demanded an end to the incessant killings in the state by gunmen.
Reacting to her arrest and secret prosecution, Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, on Wednesday said that before her arrest, Hamdiya received warnings and veiled threats through phone calls for calling out the state government for its utter failure to support people affected by frequent gunmen’s attacks on rural communities.
“Amnesty International condemns the arbitrary arrest and secret arraignment of Hamdiyya Sidi — for posting a viral video on social media, in which she lamented how the neglect of people displaced by rampant insecurity is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Sokoto State.
“Our findings show that Hamdiyya Sidi received warnings and veiled threats through phone calls for calling out the utter failure of #Sokoto state government to support people affected by frequent gunmen’s attacks on rural communities in Sokoto state,” Amnesty wrote on X.
Amnesty International condemns the arbitrary arrest and secret arraignment of Hamdiyya Sidi — for posting a viral video on social media, in which she lamented how the neglect of people displaced by rampant insecurity is worsening humanitarian crisis in Sokoto state: pic.twitter.com/MdeIz9uA11
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) November 6, 2024
Sokoto is one of states in the Northern region plagued by criminals known as bandits who raid and loot villages, kill residents and burn houses to the ground.
Last week, bandits slaughtered four farmers in Isa local government areas of state.
Sokoto has joined in the harassment of social media and opposition voices over criticism of their governors.
Governors across the country are increasingly targeting opponents and social media users for allegedly insulting and embarrassing them.