Amnesty International
Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and detention of Abubakar Salim Musa by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, describing the action as arbitrary, unlawful and a dangerous escalation in efforts to muzzle dissent, particularly among young Nigerians active online.
In a statement released on Wednesday via its official X handle, the global rights organisation said Salim’s ordeal stemmed from his social media posts critical of government officials, an act it maintained falls squarely within the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.
Amnesty alleged that Salim was secretly tracked and monitored by officers attached to the Gusau Central Police Command prior to his arrest, without any formal invitation, petition or allegation being communicated to him. The organisation said attempts by his legal representatives to obtain clarity from the police yielded no result.
According to the group, Salim was eventually located and arrested at a hotel in the Apo Legislative Quarters area of Abuja by heavily armed security operatives and subsequently detained at Abbatoir, a detention facility Amnesty described as notorious.
The rights body further alleged that police officers denied having Salim in custody when his family and lawyers made inquiries at the facility, a development it said underscored a troubling disregard for due process and transparency.
Amnesty insisted that Salim committed no offence known to law, stressing that criticism of public office holders, irrespective of their status, does not constitute a crime. It described his continued detention as an abuse of power and a blatant violation of the rule of law.
Under international human rights standards, the organisation noted, expressions of opinion on social media cannot lawfully justify arrest or detention. It therefore called on the Nigerian authorities to release Abubakar Salim immediately and unconditionally.
The group also warned that the incident reflects a broader and growing threat to freedom of expression in Nigeria, particularly for young people, urging authorities to reverse what it called a worrying pattern that could undermine democratic norms and civic engagement.
