By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Sokoto state authorities are under increasing pressure to ensure the safety of Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff and her lawyer, Abba Hikima, who have both been subjected to disturbing threats during the ongoing trial.
The duo is facing charges brought by the Sokoto state government, accusing Hamdiyya of “insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” for criticizing Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
According to Amnesty International Nigeria, the threats to their safety include harassing phone calls and physical confrontations with individuals claiming to be ‘intelligence agents.’
These actions have raised concerns over the abuse of power and an apparent attempt to silence critics and intimidate those defending them.In the wake of the threats, Barrister Hikima was forced to request armed police protection during a recent court hearing, which the court granted.
However, both Hikima and Hamdiyya have been followed and confronted while staying in Sokoto for the trial, intensifying the already hostile atmosphere.
In November 2024, Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff was abducted by armed assailants while she was retrieving her mobile phone from a charging point.
She was brutally beaten and thrown out of a moving tricycle, suffering severe injuries.Amnesty International Director Isa Sanusi condemned the actions, stressing that such intimidation tactics aimed at suppressing freedom of expression should have no place in a democratic society.
Sanusi also called on Nigerian authorities to focus on tackling the rampant insecurity in Sokoto, particularly in the eastern part of the state, where gunmen have been terrorizing local communities.