Amnesty International condemns detention of teen over viral social media post

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the Borno State Government and the Nigeria Police Force for the arrest and continued detention of 19-year-old Haruna Mohammed, popularly known as Abale Borno, over a viral social media post.

According to a post via its X page on Saturday, the teenager has been in custody since April 2, 2025, after he posted a video expressing concern about the dilapidated state of schools in Borno State.

The rights organisation described his detention as unlawful and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.

“In clear and utter disregard for the rule of law, Borno State, in connivance with the police, are planning to charge the teenager for ‘defaming and degrading the personality of the governor’ and ‘ridiculing and bringing down the personality of the governor of Borno State, Prof. Zulum,’” Amnesty International Nigeria said in a statement via X on Saturday.

The group demanded Mohammed’s immediate and unconditional release, insisting that his arrest was part of a broader pattern of using state power to silence dissent.

“Free expression is not a crime and the government of Borno State must end their misuse of the criminal justice system and manipulation of the police to suppress dissent and silence critics,” the statement added.

Amnesty International further urged Nigerian authorities to uphold constitutional rights and refrain from targeting citizens for voicing their opinions online.

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