Breaking: Lady-Critic of Sokoto Gov Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif Declared Missing

Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, lady-critic of the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, has been declared missing.

Sharif’s lawyer, Abba Hikima, broke the news today, through a post on his official Faceook handle.

“Hamdiyya has been missing since 10:00 am yesterday (Tuesday).

“She left home to buy food stuff in Sokoto and has not been seen since”, Hikima declared in the post.

Hikima stated that the Sokoto State Police Command has been informed of the development.

Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif is a known name in Sokoto for criticising the government.

The Eagle reports that last November for example, there was news she stood a risk of being arraigned before a sharia court in Achida town Sokoto state.

Alleged offence was “inciting women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties”.

Following that report, Amnesty International (AI) immediately sent an appeal to the government to drop charges against Shariff.

READ ALSO: Amnesty International Backs Prosecution of Culprit SARS Operatives

The organisation stated that Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif had been facing series of harassments and threats for posting a video on social media lamenting the condition of people displaced by gunmen’s frequent attacks.

Sokoto state government’s plan to also charge Hamdiyya Sidi for the “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance” is an attempt to weaponize spurious charges to silence critical voices of young people in #Sokoto state who speak about human rights, Amnesty International said.

Stating that “Hamdiyya Sidi was abducted by armed men and whisked into a tricycle on Wednesday 13 November in Achida town while coming out of her home to collect her phone from charging point,  the organisation added that she was beaten with machetes and heavy sticks — and thrown out of a moving tricycle, left with severe injuries”.

Harassment and intimidation of Hamdiyya Sidi is unlawful and must end. Right now the life of Hamdiyya is at risk. Attempts to silence and punish her, are solely aimed at creating a climate of fear in Sokoto state for people who want to express opinions critical of government.

READ #Sokoto state Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s frightening intolerance of dissenting voices through heavy handed clampdown on critics is unacceptable in a free society. No one should be punished solely for expressing an opinion that is contrary to that of government”, the organisation stated.