A human rights lawyer Abba Hikima has berated the Sokoto State Government for deliberately refusing to arrest and prosecute those who kidnapped, assaulted and tried to kill an 18-year-old Hamdiyya Sidi, a social media critic.
He said it was surprising that the state government is still prosecuting the young girl who was abducted and secretly detained for speaking against raging insecurity in the state and northwest Nigeria.
Barrister Hikima revealed this on Wednesday after a court session in Sokoto.
“While Sokoto state government is doing visibly nothing to locate, apprehend and prosecute the persons who abducted, brutally assaulted and strangled Hamdiyya, the 18-year-old (Hamdiyya) continues to face criminal trial in the state for allegedly inciting public disturbance,” he wrote on his verified Facebook page.
He added that: “You could remember that Hamdiyya criticized Ahmad Ali, the Sokoto governor, for gross inaction in the face of gross insecurity and killings in Sabon Birni and environs. Her ordeals immediately followed her criticisms.”
This newspaper reports that Ms Hamdiyya, in a viral video, revealed how bandits pillaged their villages without any restraint; and displaced women seeking refuge in the state capital are now being sexually exploited due to abject poverty and squalor.
Ms Hamdiyya was subsequently arrested, beaten and secretly jailed by police officers in the state.
Days after her release, the girl was again abducted, beaten to a pulp, strangled and left to die by some unknown persons – who are yet to be arrested.
This development has elicited criticisms from local and international human rights organisations.
Amnesty International said Sokoto state has joined in the harassment of social media and opposition voices over criticism of their governors.
“Amnesty International condemns the arbitrary arrest and secret arraignment of Hamdiyya Sidi — for posting a viral video on social media, in which she lamented how the neglect of people displaced by rampant insecurity is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Sokoto state.
“Our findings show that Hamdiyya Sidi received warnings and veiled threats through phone calls for calling out the utter failure of the #Sokoto state government to support people affected by frequent gunmen’s attacks on rural communities in Sokoto state.
“Plan to charge Hamdiyya Sidi for the “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” is an attempt to weaponize spurious charges to silence critical voices of young people in #Sokoto state who speak about human rights.
“Harassment and intimidation of Hamdiyya Sidi is unlawful. Attempts to silence and punish her are solely aimed at creating a climate of fear for people who want to express critical opinions.”
Our correspondent reports that Hamdiyya is still facing criminal charges for voicing her concern against the government in action on raging insecurity.
