Mobolaji Michael
AMNESTY International has condemned the alleged unlawful detention by the Borno State government and the Police of 19-year-old Haruna Mohammed (widely known as Abale Borno) accused of “ridiculing and bringing down the personality of the governor of Borno State Prof. Umara Babagana Zulum”
According to Amnesty International, the teenager has been detained since 2 April 2025, for a viral social media post expressing concern over the ramshackle state of schools in Borno State.
In a clear and utter disregard for the rule of law, Amnesty International maintains, the Borno State government, in connivance with the Police, is charging the teenager for “defaming and degrading the personality of the governor.”
The organisation, therefore, insisted that responding to a critic with arbitrary detention and planning to charge him for “ridiculing and bringing down the personality of the governor of Borno State Prof. Umara Babagana Zulum” is a brazen abuse of power and contempt for people’s right to hold and express critical opinions.
“Borno State government must end its ruthless and disturbing crackdown on dissent. Targeting people for critical social media posts is draconian and unacceptable in a free society. The right to freedom of expression applies to ideas of all kinds and protects the ability of people to express critical opinions even if their message might be considered negative, shocking or disturbing.
“Any restriction on the human right to freedom of expression is illegal. It is perfectly within the rights of any individual to seek better social services and hold those in positions of authority to account.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Abale Borno. Free expression is not a crime and the government of Borno State must end their misuse of the criminal justice system and manipulation of the Police to suppress dissent and silence critics”, the organisation stated.
Eighteen-Eleven Media