Amnesty International has strongly criticized the Plateau State government and Governor Caleb Mutfwang over the illegal detention of a resident, Samuel Samuel II, who has been held in police custody for more than a week.
Samuel was arrested after making a social media post accusing the governor of acquiring an official vehicle worth NGN250 million, while the State’s citizens continue to suffer in poverty.
In a statement on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, Amnesty International condemned the governor’s actions, labelling them as tyrannical.
The organisation emphasised that in any functioning democracy, citizens have the right to question their leaders, and it is the responsibility of the government to provide answers, not to silence dissent.
The statement read:
“Amnesty International condemns the unlawful detention of Samuel Samuel II by the police for criticizing the Governor of Plateau State Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. In utter disregard for the rule of law, Samuel has been in police custody for over a week. The authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Samuel Samuel, and these attempts to intimidate and harass him must stop. Criticism is not a crime, and the authorities must respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression.”
Amnesty International’s condemnation comes amid growing concerns over human rights abuses in Nigeria, particularly relating to freedom of speech.
The organisation has called on the Plateau State government to immediately release Samuel and respect the rights of its citizens to express dissent without fear of retaliation.
