A coalition of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Amnesty International and 35 civil society organisations (CSOs) have petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the alleged persecution, harassment, and unlawful treatment of Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif, a teenage social commentator from Sokoto State over her comment on banditry in Sokoto State.
The coalition demanded the immediate and unconditional release of 17-year-old Sharif, who was reportedly abducted and later found under suspicious circumstances following her criticism of insecurity in Sokoto State.
Presenting a joint statement on Friday in Abuja, the organisations, which also included Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Yiaga Africa, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and others, decried her treatment as emblematic of a wider crackdown on civic voices across the country.
The coalition lamented that certain state officials are weaponising public institutions to silence dissent, warning that Nigeria is veering dangerously towards authoritarianism under the pretext of governance.
Miss Sharif, known for her bold advocacy on insecurity and poor governance in her state, was allegedly targeted after speaking out about repeated bandit attacks that led to killings, rape, arson, and the displacement of innocent residents. Rather than receive a response from authorities, she became the subject of relentless intimidation.
Her legal team reported her missing, only for her to later be discovered in a hospital in Bakura, Zamfara State, under suspicious and unexplained conditions.
They berated the Sokoto State Government for abandoning its responsibility to citizens, choosing instead to crush those who hold it accountable.
The statement was presented by CISLAC’s Mallam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani; CDDs Dr. Dauda Garuba and Amnesty International’s Isa Sanusi, among other leaders of the coalition.
They expressed concern that the Nigeria Police and the State Magistracy appear to be complicit in efforts to prosecute Miss Sharif for simply exercising her constitutional right to free expression, warning that Nigeria cannot afford a justice system that shields the powerful while punishing the powerless unjustly.
Although the statement refrained from directly accusing Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, it pointed to what it called “multiple credible indicators’ suggesting state involvement and reminding the governor of his constitutional oath to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental human rights, not to suppress them.
The organisations commended the legal efforts of Miss Sharif’s counsel, led by Abba Hikma, and all individuals and groups who contributed to ensuring her safety.
They urged the Nigerian judiciary to demonstrate courage and integrity by resisting executive interference and upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable.
In a direct appeal to women in leadership, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Sokoto First Lady Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, the coalition urged them to rise in defence of Miss Sharif.
They also demanded immediate oversight action from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), relevant National Assembly committees, and other institutional bodies tasked with protecting citizens’ rights.
