- While noting that the activist merely posted a video that was already in circulation, Amnesty said the trend of persecuting and harassing dissents for their social media posts must stop.
One Shafi’u Tureta has been arrested on the orders of Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu for sharing a viral video of the governor’s wife’s lavish party.
Amnesty International confirmed the ordeal of Tureta, an activist and critic of the governor, on Monday.
The human rights organisation decried the jailing of Mr Turera in a statement on Monday.
The organisation said the development underscores a growing Aliyu intolerance to criticism.
While noting that the activist merely posted a video that was already in circulation, Amnesty said the trend of persecuting and harassing dissents for their social media posts must stop.
“Shafi’u Tureta, arrested unlawfully on the order of Governor Of Sokoto State Ahmed Aliyu, has been hurriedly sent to prison in what appears to be an attempt to punish him. Posting an already viral video of the lavish birthday party of the governor’s wife is not a crime,” Amnesty International said.
“No one should be arrested solely for expressing an opinion that is contrary to that of the government or people in government.”
Amnesty International also raised concern over the “growing intolerance of dissenting voices by those in positions of authority in Nigeria is another setback for nation’s human rights records.”
It added, “Sokoto state government has many important issues to tackle — and punishing critics of government is not one of them. This trend of the authorities’ never-ending harassment of activists for their social media posts must end.”
Aliyu has yet to make an official statement despite coming under criticism for the arrest of Mr Tureta.
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