Amnesty International (AI) has said it is “deeply concerned” by the warrant for the arrest of Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif issued by Wurno Magirstrate Court sitting at Gwiwa Sokoto on July 10.
The warrant was issued following Hamdiyya’s absence at the court sitting on July 9 because of the medical treatment she is undergoing — after she was abducted — made the warrant of arrest contrary to all tenets of fair hearing and justice, Amnesty International said.
Hamdiya is known for her vocal stance against insecurity in Sokoto State and had previously challenged the Sokoto State Government over its handling of security crisis, particularly in the eastern part of the state, where banditry has displaced thousands and turned many villages into ghost towns.
She is facing trial on charges of “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” for criticising the Governor of Sokoto State Mr Ahmed Aliyu’s poor, reckless and insensitive handling of the horrifying security situation in eastern part of the state.
“We are calling for the withdrawal of the warrant of arrest pending the hearing of a motion for trial in absentia filed by her lawyers on 19 June,” AI said.
According to AI, since the beginning of her trial, Hamdiyya was abducted twice.
“On 20 May, her lawyers and family reported her missing on her way to the market to buy foodstuff. A day later, she was found in a bush in Zamfara state where her abductors abandoned her after subjecting her to life-threatening abuses.
“Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif was abducted by armed men and whisked into a tricycle on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, while going to collect her mobile phone from a charging point. She was beaten and thrown out of a moving tricycle and left with severe injuries.
“Instead of trying to suppress dissenting voices through the abuse of power, Sokoto state government and the Nigerian security agencies should focus on addressing rampant insecurity facing particularly the people of the eastern part of Sokoto state where gunmen have been killing people, razing villages, abducting women and girls – almost daily,” AI said.
