Amnesty International Urges Investigation into Threats Against Sokoto Critic Hamdiya

Amnesty International Urges Investigation into Threats Against Sokoto Critic Hamdiya

By Fly Cable News

Amnesty International Nigeria has demanded a fair and transparent investigation into threats against Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff and her lawyer, Abba Hikima, amid an ongoing trial in Sokoto State.
Hamdiyya is facing charges of using insulting or abusive language and inciting disturbance, allegedly for criticizing Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu. Reports indicate she has been subjected to threats and harassment.

Amnesty International’s Director, Isa Sanusi, revealed that these threats include intimidating phone calls, confrontations by suspected thugs, and surveillance by individuals claiming to be intelligence agents.

“These acts are a blatant abuse of power, aimed at silencing voices advocating for their society and intimidating lawyers defending them,” Sanusi stated in a press release on Sunday.

During a recent court session, Barrister Hikima requested armed police protection due to a tense and hostile courtroom environment. Although the request was granted, further harassment, including stalking at their hotel, was reported.

Hamdiyya’s ordeal began on November 13, 2024, when armed men abducted her as she retrieved her phone from a charging station. She was beaten, thrown from a moving tricycle, and left with severe injuries.

Amnesty International criticized the Sokoto State government and security agencies for ignoring these threats and instead focusing on suppressing dissent.

“Rather than silencing critics, Sokoto authorities should prioritize addressing the severe insecurity in the eastern part of the state, where gunmen continue to kill, abduct, and displace residents,” Sanusi emphasized.