The victim, Abdulrahman Abubakar Sherif, a councillor representing Shamaki Ward, was reportedly assaulted after being accused of criticising the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Amnesty International has condemned the brutal assault on a serving councillor in Gombe State, allegedly carried out by a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, describing the incident as another disturbing sign of growing impunity and repression under the state government.
The attack occurred on Monday, December 15, at about 4:00pm along Science 2 Road, Federal Lowcost area of Gombe.
The victim, Abdulrahman Abubakar Sherif, a councillor representing Shamaki Ward, was reportedly assaulted after being accused of criticising the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
In a statement, Amnesty International said the incident reflects a wider pattern of intolerance for dissent and the use of violence by government officials and their agents to silence critics.
“This outrageous incident is a reflection of the wider and increasing impunity and repression by Gombe State government officials on people who show even a slight political dissent,” the organisation said, adding that “using violence to settle political scores is unacceptable in a free society.”
A viral video of the incident shows the governor’s aide and driver to the Chief of Staff, identified as Adamu Danko, repeatedly slapping and kicking the councillor, while issuing threats of further violence. The victim is seen helplessly pleading with his attacker to stop the assault.
Amnesty said the councillor was subjected to the “horrific treatment” at the behest of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, stressing that such actions are contributing to a climate of fear across the state.
According to the rights group, frequent attacks and intimidation by appointees and agents of the Gombe State government for political reasons have become common during the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, creating what it described as a “toxic climate of fear.”
“It is perfectly within the rights of people to criticise any government official no matter his status,” Amnesty stated, calling on the governor to issue a clear directive to his appointees and officials to desist from punishing critics and political opponents.
The organisation also urged Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate the incident and ensure that the governor’s aide is brought to justice through a fair trial, without recourse to the death penalty.
“Making sure that the governor’s SSA faces justice for his lawless behaviour is critical to ensuring that those in positions of authority do not continue to use unlawful means to intimidate and silence critics and political opponents,” Amnesty said.
The group further warned that violent attacks, intimidation and threats against critics and political opponents of state governors are escalating across Nigeria, expressing deep concern that persons in positions of authority and their agents are often behind these “gross violations of human rights.”