Kano-based TikToker, Junaidu Abdullahi, aka Abusalma, has been arrested and remanded in prison over social media propaganda.
Gatekeepers news reports that the TikToker was arrested for agitating for widespread protests against hardship in the country, through a viral video he posted online.
According to reports, Abusalma was arrested by security operatives on Friday and was subsequently arraigned in court and remanded in a Kano prison.
The TikToker’s post coincided with some youth’s decision to hold a protest tagged ‘#EndBadGovernment’ that has gained traction in the North.
Abusalma, therefore made a now-deleted video, saying that any Islamic cleric who spoke against the planned protest should be pulled down from the pulpit.
He said, “Any religious leader who spoke against peaceful protest over hardship, then he is not part of those suffering.”
“And whoever stops you from expressing your grievances to your leaders through peaceful protest as provided by the constitution, I swear he is not among those who can’t afford a sack of maize at N100,000.”
“I personally bought a bag of fertilizer at N49,000. That was the price of a sack of maize in the past. As I speak to you now, I gathered that the price of fertilizer has increased.”
The TikToker noted that he was not instigating violence, but if the protest would lead to the dethronement of the present government, “then so be it.”.
He said, “If protest will lead to overthrow of the government, so be it. Any cleric who preaches against protest, pull him down from the pulpit. Pull him down.”
One of Abusalma’s relatives, Mustapha Hamza, confirmed the development to journalists.
He revealed that the TikToker is currently being held at Kurmawa prison in Kano State.
Hamzat said, “He left home in a hurry on Wednesday morning after receiving an urgent call around 8:30 am. He left without even eating breakfast. That was the last time his family saw him.”
“We reported the matter to the police station, and they immediately made a radio call, declaring him as a missing person.”
“As we continued searching for his whereabouts, I received a call yesterday (Friday) around 5:30pm, with the caller informing me that Junaidu was at Kurmawa prison in Kano. He further revealed that Court 38 Zungeru Road, Kano ordered his remand and adjourned the case till after three weeks.”
On Sunday, the global NGO, Amnesty International (AI), through a statement released, demanded Abusalma’s immediate release, accusing the Nigerian government of punishing him for exercising his fundamental rights.
It said, “The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release social media activist Junaidu Abdullahi (Abusalma), who was imprisoned in Kano for posting a viral TikTok video calling for a peaceful protest against widespread hunger across the country. #FreeAbusalma.”
The NGO also referenced previous incidents of government crackdowns on dissent, noting that “arresting critical voices should not be the priority of the Nigerian authorities at a time when millions are on the brink of starvation, facing widespread malnutrition and severe poverty.”
The police are, however, yet to react to the arrest.
