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A prominent human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has condemned what it called “the brutal assault by a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Gombe State on a serving councillor of Shamaki ward Abdulrahman Abubakar Sherif” which took place at Science 2 Road, Federal Lowcost, Gombe on Monday.
The victim was accused of criticising the chief of staff to the governor, Abubakar Inuwa Kari resulted to his beating, hitting and repeated slapping by the governor’s aide.
In a statement it posted on its Facebook page on Friday, the human rights organisation described the assault as outrageous and a reflection of the wider and increasing impunity and repression by Gombe state government officials on people “who show even a slight political dissent”.
“Using violence to settle political scores is unacceptable in a free society. This culture of impunity fostered by Gombe state government is suffocating the civic space and endangering lives.
“The governor’s aide and driver to the chief of staff to the governor Adamu Danko, was seen in the viral video repeatedly slapping and kicking the councillor —with threats of more violence, while the victim helplessly pleads with him to stop the beatings.
“The victim was subjected to this horrific treatment at the behest of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Gombe state”, they said.
Amnesty International alleged that frequent attacks and intimidation by appointees and agents of Gombe state government in the reign of Governor Inuwa Yahaya for political reasons is creating a toxic climate of fear across the state.
“This is unacceptable. It is perfectly within the rights of people to criticise any government official no matter his status. Governor Inuwa Yahaya must give a clear directive to his top appointees and other government officials not to punish critics and political opponents”.
It urged Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate the incident and ensure that the governor’s aide is brought to justice through fair trial.
According to it, making sure that the governor’s SSA face justice for his lawless behaviour is critical to ensuring that those in positions of authority would not continue to use unlawful means to intimidate and silence critics and political opponents.
“In Nigeria, violent attacks, intimidation and threatening phone calls of critics and political opponents of state governors are escalating to all time high. We are deeply concerned by reports that persons in positions of authority and their agents are always behind these gross violations of human rights”.
