Amnesty International has called for an urgent investigation into mounting allegations of human rights violations by the Borno State Government.
The organization expressed concern over reports of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and harassment of critics of the state government. According to Amnesty, individuals who speak out against state authorities are being held in police-run detention centers without due process, with some denied bail.
Amnesty described as “outrageous” the sentencing of five young people to prison terms of up to five years for peacefully participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest between August 1 and 10, 2024. The group said the convictions amounted to a “sham trial” and represented a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent.
Media outlets and opposition parties in Borno State are also reportedly facing intimidation. Privately owned radio stations critical of government policies have received threats, while opposition posters and billboards are frequently destroyed by state-sponsored groups.
Earlier this year, a commercial building belonging to opposition figure Attom Magira was demolished in Maiduguri under what Amnesty described as a “flawed and unlawful process.” The organization said the move highlighted the government’s “brazen contempt for basic freedoms.”
Amnesty International urged Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration to end what it described as escalating repression, respect the rule of law, and safeguard the rights of citizens to freely express their opinions without fear of retaliation.
