Ms Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, the lady under trial for allegedly criticizing Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu over raging insecurity in the state, has been declared missing.
Her counsel, Abba Hikima, declared her missing on Wednesday through a post on his official Facebook handle.
He said, “Hamdiyya has been missing since 10:00 am yesterday (Tuesday).
“She left home to buy food stuff in Sokoto and has not been seen since.”
Mr Hikima stated that the Sokoto State Police Command has been informed of the development.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday 13 November 2024, Ms Sharif was abducted by armed men and whisked into a tricycle while going to collect her mobile phone from a charging point. She was beaten and thrown out of a moving tricycle and left with severe injuries.
Before the disappearance of Hamdiyya, she and her lawyer had come under harassment from the Sokoto State government which had forced Amnesty International to intervene in their predicament.
On january 20 2025, AI called on the Federal Government to “mpartially and transparently investigate disturbing threats to the lives of Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif and her lawyer Abba Hikima.
This is even as the state government has dragged the duo to court charging them with the “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” for criticizing Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State.
According to Amnesty International, “Right now, apart from facing persecution for exercising freedom of expression, Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif and her lawyer Abba Hikima are being subjected to threats, including phone calls and in-person confrontations by sponsored thugs and individuals claiming to be ‘intelligence agents,’ ” said Isa Sanusi Director Amnesty International Nigeria.
Due to the intensity of the threats and persecution, Barrister Hikima was forced to apply for armed police protection due to the hostile atmosphere in court, and the court granted the request.
In Sokoto during the trial, the pair was also stalked at their hotel, accosted and intimidated by some individuals.
“These actions represent an alarming abuse of power and a calculated attempt to intimidate and punish those who speak out for their society and lawyers defending them. The hostilities being faced by Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif and Barrister Abba Halima are increasingly making their appearance in court in Sokoto dangerous,
“Sokoto State Governor Mr Ahmed Aliyu’s frightening intolerance of dissenting voices through a heavy-handed clampdown on critics is unacceptable in a free society. No one should be punished solely for expressing an opinion contrary to that of the government.
“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,” said Isa Sanusi.
