The State Security Service has locked up a student of Federal University Dutse over a social media post deemed defamatory against Nigeria First Lady Aisha Buhari.
Aminu Adamu Muhammed had in June posted on Twitter that Mrs Buhari had suddenly added massive weight after taking part in plundering the nation’s meagre resources as the masses endured hardship under her husband’s brutal regime.
In the June 8, 2022, tweet, Mr Muhammed chastised Ms Buhari in Hausa: “Su mama anchi kudin talkawa ankoshi”, which could be translated as “the mother has gotten fatter by eating masses’ money.”
Mr Muhammed’s friends said he made the post because he was frustrated about the prolonged strike by universities across the country. The strike, which started in early 2022, ended last month after nine months.
A family source said Mr Muhammed, 23, was picked up by officers on November 8 on the campus ground of Federal University Dutse, Jigawa. The student was reportedly subjected to severe beating by the officers following his arrest at about 12:00 noon.
He was summarily transferred to Abuja and was briefly allowed to contact his father Adamu Shalele Azare about his location, which the family thought was a police station.