…Calls on President Tinubu to act swiftly and direct the IGP to intervene
…Urges women leaders, including the First Lady, to stand up for Miss Hamdiyyah
By Nkechi Eze
A powerful coalition of CISLAC and 37 civil society organisations has issued a searing condemnation of what they describe as the “deliberate persecution, harassment, and unlawful treatment” of Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif, a teenage social commentator from Sokoto State. The coalition accused certain state officials of weaponizing public institutions to silence dissent, warning that Nigeria is veering dangerously towards authoritarianism under the pretext of governance.
Miss Sharif, known for her bold advocacy on insecurity and poor governance in her state, was allegedly targeted after speaking out about repeated bandit attacks that led to killings, rape, arson, and the displacement of innocent residents. Rather than receive a response from authorities, she became the subject of relentless intimidation. Her legal team reported her missing, only for her to later be discovered in a hospital in Bakura, Zamfara State, under suspicious and unexplained conditions.
In a strongly worded joint statement, the organisations including Amnesty International Nigeria, #FixPolitics, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Yiaga Africa, BudgIT Foundation, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and others decried her treatment as emblematic of a wider crackdown on civic voices across the country. They accused the Sokoto State Government of abandoning its responsibility to citizens, choosing instead to crush those who hold it accountable.
“This is not just about Hamdiyyah. It is about the civic soul of our democracy,” the coalition declared. “Rather than face the suffering of communities plagued by bloodshed and poverty, the state has chosen to silence the voice of a girl who dared to demand empathy and action.”
They expressed grave concern that the Nigerian Police and the State Magistracy appear to be complicit in efforts to prosecute Miss Sharif for simply exercising her constitutional right to free expression. They warned that Nigeria cannot afford a justice system that shields the powerful while punishing the powerless.
Although the statement refrained from directly accusing Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, it pointed to what it called “multiple credible indicators” suggesting state involvement. The coalition reminded the Governor of his constitutional oath to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental human rights not to suppress them.
The groups drew attention to broader patterns of state abuse, citing the unlawful detention of 29 minors during the “#EndBadGovernance” protests, and the persistent failure to hold police officers accountable despite presidential directives. “This cannot continue,” they warned. “We must not allow a system where the vulnerable are crushed while the powerful are coddled.”
The organisations praised the legal efforts of Miss Sharif’s counsel, led by Abba Hikma, and commended all individuals and groups who contributed to ensuring her safety. They called on the Nigerian judiciary to demonstrate courage and integrity by resisting executive interference and upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens especially those who are most vulnerable.
In a direct appeal to women in leadership, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Sokoto First Lady Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, the coalition urged them to rise in defence of Miss Sharif. “At a time when women’s participation in governance is at a historic low, silence in the face of injustice only deepens gender exclusion. The time to speak truth to power is now.”
They further demanded immediate oversight action from the National Human Rights Commission, relevant National Assembly Committees, and other institutional bodies tasked with protecting citizens’ rights. The coalition warned that failure to act would not only disgrace Nigeria internationally, but could prompt appeals to foreign institutions and mechanisms.
The groups pledged to escalate their advocacy to global human rights bodies including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Criminal Court if necessary. They also announced plans to call for diplomatic pressure through visa bans and asset seizures targeting officials implicated in the suppression of civic voices.
Adding her voice, Cislac’s gender officer Asaolu Dolapo Dorcas denounced the growing exclusion of young people from the democratic process, asserting that such exclusion not only silences their voices but also contributes to their vulnerability and marginalization.
“For me, I can see this as a clear-cut example of violence against a certain population group the youth population,” she stated. “They have been excluded from participating in democratic processes. By virtue of that, they are becoming more marginalized and vulnerable, especially as they begin to speak up on political and democratic issues.”
Dolapo emphasized the contradiction between national rhetoric and reality, noting, “There’s a saying that the strength of a nation is its youth, but in this case, it seems to be the opposite.”
She further described the ongoing situation as not just political repression but also as gender-based violence, calling on all women in political positions and women’s rights organizations to take a stand.
“This is a call to every woman holding a political position in Nigeria today, to every women’s rights organization, to join us as a speaker and stand against this growing menace,” she said.
In conclusion, the signatories affirmed that “the country belongs to all of us not just the elite, not just the powerful. Civic space is not a privilege. It is a right,” the groups asserted.
“We refuse to fold our arms while Nigeria slides into repression. We will mobilise, we will resist, wwe will speak because silence, in times like these, is not neutrality, it is complicity.”
The statement was jointly signed by:
#FixPolitics
Amnesty International Nigeria
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)
Global Rights
Good Governance Team
Media Rights Agenda
Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA)
Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN)
Rape is a Crime
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC)
Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action)
The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTIW)
Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
Yiaga Africa
Wali Uwais Access to Justice
Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability
Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
State of the Union (SOTU)
Tax Justice and Governance Platform
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
Women in Mining, Nigeria
Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
Centre for Social Justice
Lawyers Alert
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
Alliance for Surviving COVID-19
BudgIT Foundation
Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resources Centre)
Mothers And Marginalized Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre)
Say No Campaign Nigeria
Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
Girl Child Concerns (GCC)
Spaces for Change (S4C)
As the case of Hamdiyyah Sharif continues to attract national and international attention, these groups have reaffirmed their resolve to resist injustice and defend Nigeria’s democratic freedoms no matter the cost.
