Amnesty International has strongly condemned the brutal assault on a Gombe State councillor by a senior aide to the governor. The incident, which involved beating and slapping, followed the councillor's criticism of a top official. The rights group called for an immediate investigation to curb growing impunity.
Amnesty International issued a sharp condemnation of the assault on Abdulrahman Abubakar Sherif, a councillor from Shamaki Ward in Gombe State. The attack took place on Monday along Science 2 Road in the Federal Low-cost area of Gombe. It stemmed from Sherif's alleged criticism of Abubakar Inuwa Kari, the Chief of Staff to Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The assailant was identified as Adamu Danko, driver to the Chief of Staff and a Senior Special Assistant to the governor. A viral video captured Danko repeatedly slapping and kicking the councillor, who pleaded for the violence to stop, amid threats of further harm. Amnesty described the episode as occurring at the behest of the Chief of Staff.
In a statement released on its Facebook page on Friday, the organization labeled the incident 'outrageous' and indicative of escalating impunity and repression by state officials against those expressing political dissent. 'Using violence to settle political scores is unacceptable in a free society,' Amnesty stated. 'This culture of impunity, fostered by the Gombe State government, is suffocating the civic space and endangering lives.'
The group highlighted a pattern of attacks and intimidation by appointees under Governor Yahaya, fostering a climate of fear. It demanded that the governor direct officials to cease punishing critics. Amnesty urged Nigerian authorities to investigate promptly and ensure a fair trial for the aide, emphasizing that accountability is essential to halt such human rights violations.
Broader concerns were raised about rising violent attacks on critics of state governors across Nigeria, often linked to those in authority.
