Amnesty condemns police detention of 3 Borno youths over Facebook post on N3.11bn FAAC allocation

Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and detention of three youths in Borno State over a Facebook post concerning about N3.11 billion received by Shani Local Government Council from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, between January and June 2026.

The organisation identified the affected youths as Salihu Yahaya, Haruna Mohammed and Muhammed Mallum, saying their detention was unlawful despite their subsequent release by the police.

Amnesty International, in a statement, said the three youths were arrested and subjected to what it described as “bizarre rounds of questioning” solely for sharing information from authoritative sources concerning funds allocated to their local government area.

It said the incident raised serious concerns about the use of the police to intimidate and harass young people seeking accountability from public officials.

According to the organisation, the youths did not commit any crime by sharing information about public funds or demanding explanations from the chairman of Shani Local Government Council.

“Clearly Borno State Government is out to use the police to intimidate and harass youths seeking accountability,” Amnesty said.

“Asking a local government chairman to account for billions received on behalf of the people is not a crime.”

The organisation said it was particularly concerned that the youths were detained over information relating to the receipt of public funds, arguing that citizens have the right to seek information about how government resources are received and utilised.

It also criticised the role allegedly played by the Chairman of Shani Local Government Council, Hassan Abdu Labaki, in the matter, urging him and the Borno State Government to desist from what it described as attempts to undermine accountability.

“Borno State Government through the chairman of Shani Local Government Council, Hassan Abdu Labaki, must never again engage in this desperate attempt to undermine accountability,” the organisation said.

Amnesty maintained that the arrest of the three youths amounted to an abuse of power, stressing that citizens have the right to receive, share and discuss information, as well as criticise government officials regardless of their positions.

“They did not commit any crime, and their arrest shows clear abuse of power,” it said.

“It is perfectly within their right to receive and share information or criticise any government official — no matter his position or status.”

The organisation further called on the Nigeria Police Force to uphold due process and respect citizens’ fundamental rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.

It warned that law enforcement agencies should not be used as instruments for settling political disagreements or suppressing legitimate criticism of public officials.

“Nigerian police must always uphold the due process of law and not become a tool in the hands of politicians by carrying out arbitrary arrest, detention, and other undue restrictions of the rights of individuals to the legitimate exercise of their freedom of expression and opinion,” Amnesty said.

The human rights organisation also urged the Borno State Government to respect fundamental human rights, accusing the authorities of consistently targeting young men for exercising rights guaranteed under Nigerian and international law.

Amnesty said the mere fact that a social media post was considered offensive or unpalatable to a local government chairman or any other public figure could not, by itself, constitute sufficient grounds for arbitrary arrest or detention.

“Under international human rights law, the mere fact that a social media post is considered unpalatable by a local government chairman or any public figure is not sufficient to justify arbitrary detention by the police,” it said.

The controversy reportedly followed discussions on social media concerning the funds allocated to Shani Local Government Council from FAAC between January and June 2026, with the three youths sharing information on the matter.

Although the three men have since regained their freedom, Amnesty International said their release did not erase the alleged violation of their rights, insisting that their initial arrest and detention should not have occurred in the first place.