Hamdiya Sidi, a Nigerian woman has been apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force in Sokoyo......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The woman was reportedly arrested for allegedly “embarrassing” Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, on social media.
SaharaReporters reports that Hamdiya was arrested during the weekend on the orders of the state government.
She was subsequently arraigned secretly on Monday without having access to a lawyer nor family members, a source said.
The woman had in a video lamented about insecurity in the state.
Hamdiya had also demanded an end to the incessant killings in the state by gunmen.
Sokoto is one of states in the Northern region plagued by criminals known as bandits who raid and loot villages, kill residents and burn houses to the ground.
Last week, bandits slaughtered four farmers in Isa local government areas of state.
“Our sister was arrested by the Sokoto state government, all because she spoke about the insecurities in Wurno Local Government and Sabo Birnin Local Government,” a relative of the detainee told SaharaReporters. “We’re appealing to the governor and the Commissioner of Police to release our daughter.”
Another source added,
“She was arrested on Sunday for calling out the governor on the lack of security in her town in a video. The young woman lamenting about insecurities in the state went viral on social media last week. “After she was arrested, the secretly arraigned her in court on Monday for allegedly embarrassing the state governor. Her town is one of the areas that are suffering from killings by bandits.
Gombe has joined in the harassment of social media and opposition voices over criticism of their governors.
Governors across the country are increasingly targeting opponents and social media users for allegedly insulting and embarrassing them.
Last Wednesday, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Makurdi, ordered the remand of one 35-year-old Paul Gyenger at a custodial centre in Makurdi for allegedly calling the Benue State governor a womaniser.
Gyenger was accused of insulting Governor Hyacinth Alia on social media, referring to him as a “chronic womaniser.”
The police charged him with cyberstalking and defamation of character after a complaint was filed by the governor’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC), ASP Ver Ingyatu.