Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian authorities for arresting and imprisoning Junaidu ‘Abusalma’ Abdullahi, a Kano-based TikTok user, for mobilizing protests against widespread hunger in the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, Amnesty International demanded Abdullahi’s immediate release, accusing the Nigerian government of punishing him for exercising his fundamental human rights.
The organization condemned the authorities’ actions as a violation of Abdullahi’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release social media activist Junaidu Abdullahi (Abusalma), who was imprisoned in Kano for posting a viral TikTok video calling for a peaceful protest against widespread hunger across the country. #FreeAbusalma,”
Amnesty International has further condemned the Nigerian government’s actions, stating that the rushed court proceedings and three-week adjournment in Abdullahi’s case are a deliberate attempt to punish him for exercising his freedom of expression.
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The organization notes that this is not an isolated incident, as the government has a history of cracking down on dissenting voices.
Amnesty International references previous cases, including the unlawful arrest of 25 individuals in Minna for protesting the cost of living crisis and the detention of a local baker, Fatima Auwal, for protesting the rise in flour prices.
The organization emphasizes that the government’s priority should be addressing the widespread poverty, malnutrition, and starvation affecting millions, rather than silencing critical voices.
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