Ayuba Sanusi
AMNESTY International has raised an alarm over an alleged sham trial of a critic of the Sokoto State government Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif
According to the human rights body, Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif will soon again be arraigned before a Sharia court in Achida town, Sokoto State. The government of Sokoto State, it says, is bizarrely accusing the young lady of “inciting women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties.”
“Sokoto State government is also charging Hamdiyya Sidi for the “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” — in an attempt to weaponize spurious charges to silence critical voices of young people in Sokoto State who speak about human rights.”
18–year–old Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif was reportedly abducted by armed men and whisked into a tricycle on Wednesday 13 November 2024 while on her way to pick up her mobile phone from a charging point. She was allegedly beaten and thrown out of a moving tricycle and left with severe injuries.
Amnesty International contends that Sokoto State governor Mr Ahmed Aliyu’s frightening intolerance of dissenting voices through a heavy-handed clampdown on critics is unacceptable in a free society. “No one should be punished solely for expressing an opinion that is contrary to that of government. The sham trial must end.
“Instead of attempting to suppress dissenting voices, Sokoto State government and the Nigerian security agencies should focus on addressing rampant insecurity facing particularly the people of the eastern part of Sokoto State where gunmen have been killing people, razing villages, abducting women and girls – almost daily.”
Amnesty International stressed that the teenager has been facing a series of harassment and threats for posting a video on social media lamenting the condition of people displaced by gunmen’s frequent attacks.
Eighteen-Eleven Media