Amnesty International has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Abubakar Salim Musa by the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as arbitrary and a blatant violation of his fundamental human rights.
The rights group disclosed that Musa had been under surveillance by officers attached to the Gusau Central Police Command following his lawful exercise of freedom of expression on social media. Amnesty noted that no formal invitation, complaint or allegation was ever communicated to him, despite reports that security operatives closely monitored his movements.
According to Amnesty International, while Musa was in Abuja, heavily armed security personnel tracked him to Sounders Suites in Apo Legislative Quarters, Zone E, where he was allegedly abducted and taken to “Abattoir,” a notorious police detention facility. The organisation further alleged that when Musa’s family and legal representatives visited the facility to ascertain the reason for his detention, police officers denied having him in custody.
Amnesty International called for Musa’s immediate and unconditional release, stressing that no individual should be punished for criticising government officials. It maintained that Musa committed no offence and that his arrest represents a clear abuse of power and contempt for the rule of law. The organisation emphasised that criticism of public officials, regardless of their status, is protected under both Nigerian law and international human rights standards.
The group warned that the increasing targeting of young Nigerians for online expression poses a serious threat to freedom of expression in the country, noting a pattern of threats, arrests, unlawful detention and harassment linked to social media activity. It described such actions as unlawful, unacceptable and incompatible with democratic governance.
