An 18-year-old Nigerian lady, Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff, has been sentenced to 12 strokes of the cane, two years imprisonment, or a fine of ₦50,000 for expressing concerns about insecurity in Sokoto State.
The incident, now trending on X (formerly Twitter), revealed that Shariff was arrested in November 2024 after sharing videos online lamenting the rising insecurity in her region.
She had recounted how bandits freely attacked communities, displacing residents and subjecting vulnerable women to sexual exploitation.
Before her release, authorities accused her of inciting the public and using abusive language against Governor Ahmed Aliyu in a TikTok video.
However, translated transcripts of her seven videos presented in court showed no attempt to incite violence or insult the governor.
Shariff was reportedly abducted by armed men while retrieving her phone, beaten, and thrown from a moving tricycle, leaving her seriously injured.
She was later detained and charged before both Sharia and Magistrates’ Courts.
Her case drew the attention of Amnesty International, which condemned the threats to both Shariff and her lawyer, Abba Hikima.
The organization described the intimidation and stalking they faced during trial as an abuse of power aimed at silencing dissent.
Amnesty urged authorities to focus on tackling insecurity in eastern Sokoto, where killings, kidnappings, and destruction of villages have become frequent, rather than punishing those who speak out.
At a hearing in February 2025, the Police Prosecutor submitted translated videos and a flash drive as evidence.
However, it was disclosed during cross-examination that her statement was taken without legal representation. Despite this, the court upheld her bail conditions until her sentencing.
See some reactions below:
@OceanfieldA: “No social media activist from the core north see it fit to cry on her behalf. So shameful.”
@yewande_bolaji: “It is obvious some people are just all out to defend politicians. Imagine this nonsense.”
@BrotherJusticeD: “One of the reasons Muslim extremists country will continue deteriorating in all ramifications. Using Islam religion to silence criticism.”
@Kelvin32187330: “Muslims are not humans. I have been saying this and will keep saying it, just imagine, trying to shut down someone who’s speaking out against bad governance and her own people are trying to shut her up.”
@Giddy_On1234: “What power do those damned fulani bandits hold over our govt that they are getting this level of protection. It will not be well with any govt official involved in these carnage. The blood of the innocent will demand revenge on them and their useless generations.”
@oladimejiisaac1: “This country is in a mess.. you have to keep quiet even if you’re dying.. what’s the purpose of being a law-abiding citizen if the laws won’t do right.”
@whiskynnagin: “Those enraged by her outburst against insecurity & terrorism are the terrorists & their enablers. These terrorists are not those unknown, they are residents & Muslim faithfuls in that community.”
SEE POST:
Any update on Hamdiya Sidi’s case?
She was arrested after lamenting the insecurity and the negligence of the Sokoto State Governor.
While other states are progessing, our northern state governments are arresting anyone who dares to question their incompetence.#FreeHamdiyaSidi pic.twitter.com/tS5KmrhDPO
— Saadatu Madaki (@saadatumadaki) November 9, 2024
So she got arrested and taken to court after making these videos
And some unknown people also beat her till she couldn’t walk
Does that mean people can’t speak when they’re getting killed by bandits?#justiceforhamdiyyasidisharif pic.twitter.com/VEvdqpgqyF
— Northern blog (@northern_blog) November 11, 2024
