Amnesty International has strongly condemned the Borno State Government and the Nigerian Police for the unlawful arrest and continued detention of 19-year-old Haruna Mohammed, popularly known as Abale Borno.
The young activist has been held in custody since March 2, 2025, over a viral social media post criticizing the dilapidated condition of public schools in the state.
According to Amnesty International, the decision to charge Mohammed with “defaming and degrading the personality of the governor” represents a grave violation of his fundamental rights and an alarming attack on freedom of expression. The governor in question, Prof. Umara Babagana Zulum, has reportedly sanctioned the charges alongside state police officials.
“Responding to criticism with arbitrary detention and trumped-up charges is a brazen abuse of power,” Amnesty International said in a statement. “It reflects a disturbing contempt for the rights of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.”
The rights group called on the Borno State Government to immediately cease what it described as a “ruthless crackdown on dissent,” stressing that criminalizing online criticism is draconian and incompatible with the principles of a free and democratic society.
“Freedom of expression protects all forms of opinion, including those that may be negative, shocking, or uncomfortable for those in power. Any restriction on this right is illegal and unjustifiable,” the statement continued.
Amnesty International is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Haruna Mohammed, emphasizing that peaceful calls for better social services are not crimes and must not be treated as such.
“The misuse of the criminal justice system to suppress dissent is a clear manipulation of power. The Borno State Government must stop weaponizing the police to silence critics,” the organization concluded.
