By Emmanuel Thomas l Sunday, Oct. 04, 2026
MAIDUGURI — Human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has condemned the continued detention of 11 young men remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Borno State over allegations of interrupting and embarrassing government officials during a public event.
The 11 youths, who have been in custody since August 28, 2026, were arraigned on September 8, 2026, before Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Wulari, Maiduguri.
Those facing prosecution include Umar Sanda Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed, Mohammed Ali, Abubakar Dauda, Hussaini Umar, Yunusa Salaima, Sulaiman Mohammed, Liti Adamu, Idris Yusuf, Mohammed Ali, and an individual identified in court documents as Warrata (also known as Na Hannun Gomna, Yambo, and One Five).
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the defendants were charged with acts alleged to include “interrupting, shouting at, and embarrassing government officials while they were delivering a speech.”
Reacting to the development, Amnesty International characterized the charges as politically motivated, describing the arrest and subsequent legal actions as a stark display of political repression and abuse of power.
The organization warned that the crackdown directly undermines fundamental constitutional guarantees, including the right to personal liberty, the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair hearing, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful dissent.
”The increasing clampdown on peaceful dissent in Borno State is disturbing,” Amnesty International stated, adding that a government’s tolerance of unfavorable views and critical voices serves as a key measure of its overall human rights record.
The detention of the 11 young men comes against the backdrop of heightened social and political sensitivity in Borno State, a region actively recovering from decades of insurgency while navigating complex socioeconomic challenges.
Over recent years, civil society organizations and rights monitors have repeatedly expressed concern over the shrinking civic space across Nigeria, particularly in northeastern states where security imperatives are frequently cited to restrict public gatherings and suppress opposition voices.
Under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Legal experts and rights advocates contend that expressing disapproval or heckling public officers during official functions falls within protected speech and does not constitute a criminal offense punishable by prolonged pre-trial detention.
Rights groups are calling on the Borno State Government and judicial authorities to drop the charges against the 11 individuals immediately and uphold the rule of law to prevent further erosion of fundamental human rights in the state.