Amnesty calls for release of Nigerian student arrested for criticizing Aisha Buhari

The Amnesty International has called for an immediate and unconditional release of Aminu Adamu Muhammed, a 23–year old student of Federal University Dutse, who was arrested on 8 November 2022 at midnight by security operatives suspected to be DSS operatives, over a tweet deemed to be demeaning to the person of the first lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari.

Recall that Mr Muhammad had on June 8 tweeted Mrs Buhari’s picture in which she appeared fat with the caption: “Mama fed fat on public funds”.

However, in a statement, the International advocacy group, strongly condemned the arrest of Mr Aminu, saying his family and friends alleged that he was held incommunicado and subjected to severe beating, torture and other forms of ill-treatment.

“Since his arrest neither his family nor his lawyers have had access to him.

“There are strong suspicions that Aminu is being held in an unknown location in Abuja by Nigerian security operatives.

“Amnesty International calls on the authorities to release him from unlawful detention and ensure that all those suspected of torture and other violations against him are brought to justice,” the statement said.