Borno’s Escalating Political Repression Must End – Amnesty
Amnesty International, Nigeria has called for an end to what it called the escalating political repression in Borno State, following the arrest of 11 young men for booing state government officials.
In a statement on Sunday, Amnesty said the ongoing prosecution of the 11 young men for booing state government officials tantamount to political repression and abuse of power, as well as undermining the right to personal liberty.
Amnesty said said the increasing clampdown on peaceful dissent in Borno state is disturbing and unacceptable.
“In Borno state, northeast Nigeria, at least 11 young men have been in Maiduguri maximum prison since 28 of August 2026. They were arraigned before Chief Magistate Court 1 in Wulari Maiduguri on the 8th September 2026,” the human rights group stated.
It gave the names of the young men as Umar Sanda Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed, Mohammed Ali, Abubakar Dauda, Hussaini Umar, Yunusa Salaima, Sulaiman Mohammed, Liti Adamu, Idris Yusuf, Mohammed Ali, and Warrata, Na Hannun Gomna, Yambo and One Five.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), they are charged “over conducts said to include interrupting, shouting at and embarrassing government officials while they were delivering a speech.
“Amnesty International believes the charges are politically motivated.
“These bizarre charges and actions that followed have all the elements of political repression and abuse of power, as well as undermining the right to personal liberty, presumption of innocence, fair hearing, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful dissent.
“The increasing clampdown on peaceful dissent in Borno state is disturbing. It is unacceptable. People of Borno state are free to exercise all fundamental human rights without fear of reprisal.
“How governments tolerate unfavourable views or critical voices is often a good indication of how they treat human rights generally,” the group stated.
This is coming as criticisms followed the arrest and prosecution of five people in the state for wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ t-shirts.
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