From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
A coalition of 47 civil society organisations have raised alarm over the alleged illegal detention, harassment, and life-threatening persecution of Hamdiyyah Sharif, a teenage social commentator and advocate for improved governance and citizen welfare in Sokoto State.
In a joint press statement, signed by groups including Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Amnesty International Nigeria, and SERAP among others, detailed a harrowing ordeal. “Miss Sharif’s only crime was to demand an end to the violence and insecurity that have ravaged her community,” the statement noted. “She has consistently called on the Sokoto State Government to address the deplorable conditions following bandit attacks which have led to killings, displacement, rape, and arson. Yet, instead of addressing the root causes of insecurity and poverty, the authorities have targeted her for persecution.”
According to the coalition, Sharif was recently declared missing by her legal counsel. She was later found in a hospital in Bakura, Zamfara State, under circumstances that remain unclear. “Three days ago, Miss Hamdiyyah was reportedly abducted on a commercial tricycle in her village, taken to an unknown location, injected with an unknown substance, and abandoned in a bush in Bakura Local Government Area,” the statement continued. “She was eventually rescued by good Samaritans, received medical treatment, and ended up in a police station.”
There are growing fears for her safety. “Alarming reports indicate that the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara is under intense pressure to hand her over to the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State,” the statement said. “Given the suspicious circumstances of her abduction and the looming threat to her life, we call on the Inspector General of Police to urgently take custody and ensure the protection of Sharif. Should anything happen to her, the Commissioners of Police in both Sokoto and Zamfara will be held responsible.”
The statement raised serious concerns about possible state involvement in the targeting of critics. “While we do not yet have incontrovertible evidence to directly accuse Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State of orchestrating her ordeal, multiple reports and credible indicators point to alleged state involvement in the ongoing intimidation, harassment, and silencing of Miss Sharif,” the coalition noted.
They reminded the Governor of his constitutional oath to uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights. “The Constitution, under Section 39(1), guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression, and Section 35 guarantees the right to personal liberty. These rights are not gifts from the government—they are entitlements under our Constitution and democratic system.”
The coalition highlighted that Miss Sharif’s case is not isolated. “During the ‘#EndBadGovernance’ protests, 29 minors were unlawfully detained for participating in protests decrying Nigeria’s worsening economic situation and insecurity,” they stated. “Months after Civil Society pressure, they were released. However, many remain in deplorable conditions, without rehabilitation, psychosocial support, or access to justice.”
The coalition issued a series of demands: “Immediate and unconditional release of Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif from contrived detention and full protection to enable her to enjoy her constitutional rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and personal liberty without fear of reprisal.
“An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the allegations of state complicity. Those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held to account.
“The judiciary must act with courage and consistency in upholding the Constitution, as it remains the last hope of every Nigerian, especially the vulnerable ones.
“We call on the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Fatima Ahmed Aliyu (wife of the Sokoto State Governor), and all women in public leadership positions to rise to the occasion and protect the dignity of a fellow woman.
“We call on the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Assembly Committees on Women Affairs, Human Rights, and Judiciary, and all other relevant bodies to immediately commence oversight and enquiry into this case and others like it across Nigeria.
“Should this situation remain unresolved, we will escalate advocacy to relevant international human rights bodies, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the diplomatic community, and call for visa denial and asset seizure. We will also explore legal redress through international mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court (ICC).”
The coalition saluted the courage of Sharif’s legal team, led by Abba Hikma Esq., and urged more intense action by all groups. “We cannot continue to have a system that punishes the vulnerable while shielding the powerful,” the statement concluded. “We will continue to mobilise, resist, and speak against injustice, because silence is not neutrality—it is complicity.”