Amnesty International has issued a strong condemnation of the recent arrest and secret arraignment of Hamdiyya Sidi, a young activist from Sokoto State, Nigeria, following her social media post that criticized the government’s handling of the humanitarian crisis affecting displaced communities.
Sidi’s video, which went viral, highlighted the severe neglect faced by people displaced by increasing violence and insecurity across Sokoto’s rural areas, underscoring what she described as the state’s failure to offer adequate support.
Amnesty’s findings indicate that before her arrest, Sidi received numerous warnings and veiled threats through anonymous phone calls, cautioning her against speaking out.
Her criticisms centered on the Sokoto State government’s inability to protect rural communities and its lack of assistance to victims of frequent attacks by armed groups.
In response to her outspokenness, authorities have reportedly moved to charge Sidi under accusations of “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance.” Amnesty has denounced these charges as baseless and an attempt to suppress legitimate, critical voices.
A spokesperson for Amnesty International condemned the actions against Sidi, stating, “The harassment and intimidation of Hamdiyya Sidi are unlawful and represent a calculated move to silence dissenting voices in Sokoto State. Young activists who speak up about human rights issues, particularly in the context of insecurity and neglect, should be encouraged, not punished.”
Amnesty’s statement argues that the charges against Sidi are part of a broader trend of targeting individuals who bring attention to human rights abuses, aiming to create a climate of fear among those who criticize the government’s performance on sensitive issues.
According to the organization, this trend of weaponizing vague legal accusations, such as “inciting disturbance,” stifles freedom of expression and restricts civic space, especially among the youth who increasingly use social media to demand accountability.
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