Nigeria: Amnesty Raises Alarm Over Arrests, Alleged Crackdown On Dissent in Borno

What the report says

Amnesty International has accused authorities in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, of escalating political repression and using arrests and criminal charges to silence peaceful dissent. In comments reported by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, the rights group said 11 young men had been detained at Maiduguri Maximum Prison since 28 August and later arraigned in Wulari, Maiduguri, on 8 September. Amnesty said the case raises concerns about personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

According to the report, the men were accused of conduct related to interrupting and embarrassing government officials while they were speaking. Amnesty argued that the charges appear politically motivated and described the case as part of a broader pattern of pressure on critics in Borno. The group urged the state government to respect freedom of expression and association and to uphold the rule of law.

The report also cited a separate controversy in Maiduguri involving five men arrested on 25 September while wearing T-shirts reading “Tinubu Must Go.” Police said they were detained during a patrol and later charged with offenses including criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbance. The Borno State Police Command said the arrests were not based on political views, while Governor Babagana Zulum said he did not order the detention of opposition supporters. The developments matter because they have intensified scrutiny of how authorities in Borno handle dissent and opposition activity.