Amnesty International has on Friday condemned the arrest of Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, a social media critic who criticized a Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu.
The social media critic’s lawyer, Barr. Abba Hikima had declared that his client was missing after she went to buy food items within the Sokoto metropolis.
Amnesty’s statement partly reads, “Amnesty International received disturbing reports that the Commissioner of Police Zamfara state has detained Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, despite the need to give her the urgent medical treatment after her abduction. Sokoto police are insisting Hamdiyya must be handed to them”.
“Right now, the life of Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif is in danger. The Nigerian authorities must guarantee her safety. Sokoto state Governor Mr. Ahmed Aliyu’s frightening intolerance of dissenting voices through heavy handed clampdown on critics is unacceptable in a free society”.
“At a court hearing in January, Hamdiyya’s lawyer Abba Hikima was compelled to apply for armed police protection due to the hostile atmosphere in court and the request was granted by the court. While in Sokoto, for the trial, they were also stalked at their hotel, accosted and intimidated by some individuals”.
“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”.
Her Lawyer Declared Sharif Missing
In a Facebook post, the Human Right activist, Sidi Sharif was declared missing on Wednesday by her lawyer, Barr. Abba Hikima.
His Facebook message reads, “Hamdiyya has not been seen since yesterday at 10 am. She went out to buy groceries in Sokoto town and she is still not married. We have since notified Sokoto police.
“Hamdiyya has been missing since 10:00 AM yesterday. She left home to buy food in Sokoto and has not been seen since. The Sokoto State Police have already been informed”..
