21/07/2024
The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release social media activist Junaidu Abdullahi (Abusalma) who was sent to Kano prison for posting a viral Tik Tok video calling for mass peaceful protest over widespread hunger across the country.
Hurriedly getting a court to send him to prison and adjourning the case till the next three weeks shows the Nigerian authorities clear intention of punishing Abusalma for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Arresting critical voices should not be the priority of the Nigerian authorities at a time millions of people are on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition and deep poverty. Government should listen to critics instead of arresting them. Priority should be placed on addressing increasing inequality, corruption, mismanagement and years of the utter failure of Nigerian authorities to make people’s well being as the priority of governance.
In February, the Nigerian authorities unlawfully arrested; Aisha Jibrin, Fatima Aliyu, Fatima Isyaku and twenty-two others in Minna Niger state; for participating in protest against the staggering cost of living crisis people are facing nationwide.
Also in February, Kano state police command unlawfully arrested Fatima Auwal, the leader of the women local bread (Gurasa) bakers — protesting unbearable hike in the price of flour, which is the ingredient used in the production of the local bread.
Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people battling starvation.
Nigeria’s current economic chaos came with unprecedented inflation that triggers high cost of food, medicine and hike in electricity tariff and tuition fees of public universities. These are placing undue stress on families, businesses, and communities.