An 18-year-old Nigerian lady, Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff, has been sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane, two years imprisonment, or a N50,000 fine for expressing concerns about growing insecurity in Sokoto State
Shariff was arrested in November 2024 after posting a series of videos online, where she lamented the frequent bandit attacks in her region, the displacement of residents, and the sexual exploitation of women. Her arrest and sentencing have sparked outrage online, with the case trending on X (formerly Twitter).
Authorities accused her of using abusive language against Governor Ahmed Aliyu and inciting the public through a TikTok video. However, court transcripts of her seven videos reportedly showed no content inciting violence or insulting the governor.
According to reports, Shariff was abducted by armed men while trying to retrieve her phone, assaulted, and thrown out of a moving tricycle, resulting in serious injuries. She was later charged before both a Sharia and a Magistrates’ Court.
Amnesty International condemned the case, calling out the intimidation faced by both Shariff and her lawyer, Abba Hikima, during the trial. The organization described it as an abuse of power meant to silence dissenting voices, urging the government to focus on addressing the insecurity plaguing eastern Sokoto rather than punishing citizens who speak out.
During the February 2025 hearing, translated videos and a flash drive were submitted as evidence. It was also revealed that her statement had been taken without legal counsel. Despite this, the court upheld her bail conditions until her recent sentencing.
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