Amnesty International has strongly condemned the arrest of popular TikTok commentator, Saheed Jamiu Osama, also known as ShamSodium, describing it as arbitrary and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.
According to reports, Saheed was arrested by the Nigeria Police on July 18, 2025. Associates allege he is being flown to Abuja in a move Amnesty says reflects growing disregard for due process and civil liberties in the country.
Saheed is known for his critical but balanced views on Nigeria’s religious and societal issues, often shared via TikTok. Amnesty International emphasized that expressing critical opinions is not a crime and called on the Nigerian authorities to respect and uphold constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“The heavy-handed manner in which Saheed was arrested is clearly intended to intimidate young Nigerians and stifle free expression on social media,” Amnesty stated.
The organisation demanded Saheed’s immediate and unconditional release, urging the police and other authorities to stop targeting citizens for peacefully expressing their views online.
