Fresh concerns over civil liberties deepened on Tuesday as Abubakar Salim Musa remains in police custody, with his family and legal team reportedly denied access on what officers describe as “orders from above.”
Rights advocates say Musa’s continued detention—without access to counsel or relatives—amounts to an unlawful deprivation of liberty and a violation of due process. The arrest is linked, they allege, to his outspoken criticism of Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation and his commentary on developments in Zamfara State, one of the regions worst hit by insecurity.
The case has reignited debate over shrinking civic space, as observers point to a pattern of arrests and prolonged detentions of dissenting voices and journalists, alongside forceful dispersal of peaceful protests by security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force. Critics warn that such actions send a chilling message to citizens seeking to hold leaders accountable.
Civil society groups are urging the administration of President Bola Tinubu to halt what they describe as an assault on free expression and to ensure immediate access to lawyers and family members for all detainees. They insist Nigeria must honor its obligations under international human rights law and the fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
As pressure mounts, campaigners say the rule of law—not executive fiat—must prevail, stressing that every Nigerian has the right to speak, protest peacefully, and criticize governance without fear of reprisal.
Source:@AmnestyNigeria
