Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the continued detention of Jonah Bonet, popularly known as Pompo, describing his arrest and prolonged custody as arbitrary and a violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a statement, the global human rights organisation alleged that Bonet is being punished for criticising Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, warning that his detention represents a growing pattern of using law enforcement agencies to silence dissenting voices.
According to Amnesty International, Bonet was arrested at about 8:15 p.m. on June 23, 2026, when armed operatives of the police’s Operation Fushin Kada reportedly stormed his residence in Abuja and took him into custody.
The organisation claimed that since his arrest, Bonet has remained in detention for 13 days without being granted access to his family or legal representatives. It further alleged that efforts to enforce his constitutional rights have been frustrated by the Kaduna State Government.
Amnesty International described the circumstances surrounding the arrest as unlawful, saying the operation left Bonet’s family traumatised.
The rights group maintained that, under international human rights law, criticism of public officials—whether expressed on social media or through other lawful means—does not constitute a criminal offence and cannot justify arbitrary detention.
It insisted that Bonet had committed no crime and argued that his continued detention amounts to an abuse of state power.
“It is perfectly within his right to criticise any government official, regardless of position or status,” the organisation said, adding that the increasing use of the police to target government critics was becoming a disturbing trend in Kaduna State.
Amnesty International further alleged that Bonet is being held indefinitely without formal charges because authorities lack sufficient legal grounds to prosecute him, warning that his prolonged detention exposes him to the risk of ill-treatment.
The organisation called for his immediate and unconditional release, stressing that detaining an individual solely for exercising the right to freedom of expression undermines the rule of law and violates both Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and its international human rights obligations.
