A Sharia and Magistrate court sitting–Sokoto has sentenced 18-year old Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff to 12 Strokes of the cane, fine of 50,000 naira, or 2 years imprisonment for talking about the insecurities in the state.

Shariff was charged with “the use of abusive/insulting words” and “inciting disturbance” before Magistrate Faruk Umar.

The social media ‘activist’ was arrested in November 2024 — she was first abducted, thoroughly beaten and thrown out of a moving vehicle on her way to pick up her phone, then arrested and put in prison.

Shariff had in a viral TikTok video, spoken about the level of insecurities in her state highlighting gunmen pillaging her state anytime they want without anything stopping them. she also mentioned that her towns women who go to the state capital for refuge were being raped and sexually assaulted.

The teenager’s plight has drawn the attention of many both on social media and beyond as an international Organization has condemned the government for such injustice.

Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International, Nigeria, in a statement said;

“The Nigerian Government Must Impartially and transparently investigate threats to Shariff’s life and her lawyer, Abba Hikima, as the trial continues.”

Sanusi also noted that the aforementioned were facing both over-the-phone confrontations and in-person— after from Shariff’s prosecution, urging the Government to stop with the intimidation.

Meanwhile, in the court sitting on 22 February 2025, the police prosecutor, Inspector Khalid Musa had presented 7 videos of the young critic in a flashdrive to the court as exhibits.

However, the court hearing which was adjourned to May 13th and March 14, 2025, under cross examination; the magistrate maintained the initial sentence.

The court’s decision was due to the revelation that there was no legal counsel present at the time Shariff made the statement(s).

This case has sparked reactions on social media.

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