A coalition of Youths and Human Rights Advocates in Sokoto State has deplored the clampdown on critics by the state government and pleaded for more action against banditry.
The coalition leader, Malam Mansur Sani, who made the call in a press statement, condemned the arrest of their member, Shafi’u Umar, who was allegedly accused of circulating a content against Governor Ahmad Aliyu and his wife on social media.
According to him, Umar was remanded by a Magistrate Court following his arraignment by Police on alleged circulating videos of the governor’s wife, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, spreading money during her birthday ceremony.
He added that Umar was also allegedly accused of sharing a document indicating that Governor Aliyu failed his Senior Secondary School Examination as he scored F9 and incapable of speaking English fluently.
The coalition leader argued that Umar was not the first person to share the videos, which attracted widespread condemnations from the public in spite of the present hunger and hardship being faced by citizens.
He pleaded that the government should concentrate on tackling the rising security challenges bedevilling the state, adding that the district head of Gatawa, Alhaji Isa Bawa, was murdered at the hands of kidnappers.
“The situation needs proactive actions as more people are being kidnapped in the eastern part of the state rather than giving attention to social media handlers.
“The clampdown on critics would not yield positive impacts on government rather, it should concentrate on providing developmental programmes for the citizens.
“Sokoto needs more action on infrastructural development, education, health, water supply, agriculture and others across the state,’’ Sani said.
It would be recalled that on Monday, Magistrate Court 1 in Sokoto, presided over by Chief Magistrate Fati Hassan, ordered the remand of Umar for allegedly circulating a video of Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s wife spraying money during her birthday celebration.
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