Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, has demanded the immediate release of Abubakar Salim Musa, a social media commentator and outspoken critic of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle on Monday, Atiku condemned what he described as an escalating crackdown on dissenting voices under the current government. His reaction followed a report by Amnesty International Nigeria, which disclosed that Musa, popularly known on X as @AM_Saleeeem, was arrested on the evening of January 11, 2026, and later remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre.
Amnesty, in its post, described Musa’s detention as arbitrary, stating that he was being prepared for a “sham trial based on bogus charges.” The rights group warned that the case underscored a growing threat to freedom of expression in Nigeria, noting that “a lot of young Nigerians have come under attacks, ranging from threats to arrests, illegal detention, and harassment, simply for expressing their opinions online.”
Reacting, Atiku said Musa’s arrest was “yet another disturbing example of the Tinubu administration baring its fangs against dissent, whether expressed through public protests or online criticism.”
He argued that the activist’s only offence was speaking out on insecurity across the country. “Musa’s only so-called crime was his consistent and legitimate criticism of the worsening security situation in Northern Nigeria and beyond,” Atiku said.
Rather than addressing such concerns, Atiku accused the government of resorting to intimidation. He cited Amnesty International’s position that the charges against Musa were “bogus” and the legal process a “sham,” insisting that the case reflected a broader pattern.
“This is not an isolated incident,” he said, alleging that journalists, entertainers, students and members of the National Youth Service Corps had also been arrested or harassed for criticising the President or his family.
Atiku warned that such actions posed a direct threat to democracy. “This dangerous trend undermines the very foundations of democracy, which rest on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression,” he stated, adding that Nigeria could not claim democratic credentials “while citizens are routinely arrested, assaulted and intimidated for voicing criticism of their government.”
With the country approaching another general election cycle, the former Vice President cautioned that repression would stifle political participation. “As the nation approaches a critical general election, neither the people nor the opposition can operate effectively in an atmosphere of fear and repression,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the Tinubu administration to “immediately and unconditionally release Abubakar Salim Musa and all others detained simply for exercising their constitutional rights,” and to end what he described as a campaign of arbitrary arrests against critics and journalists.
Atiku also appealed to the international community to intervene, saying, “Countries and organisations that claim to stand for democracy and human rights must hold the Tinubu administration accountable and demand an end to these violations.”
He concluded by urging civic groups and citizens to remain vigilant, adding, “I encourage fellow patriots, civil society groups and Nigerians of conscience to stand firmly against any further erosion of our freedoms.”