Amnesty International has denounced the arrest and ongoing detention of Mr. Jonah Bonet, better known as “Pompo,” calling the arrest arbitrary and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.
The rights organisation called for the immediate and unconditional release of Bonet in a statement issued on its official X account on Saturday.
Amnesty International reports that Bonet was arrested merely for criticising the Kaduna State Government and Governor Uba Sani in a viral social media video.
Mr. Bonet committed no crime and his arrest is a clear abuse of power. It is his right to criticise any government official, no matter his position or status,” the organisation said.
Amnesty alleged that armed operatives attached to “Operation Fushin Kada” stormed Bonet’s residence in Abuja at about 8:15 p.m. on June 23, 2026, and took him away at gunpoint in the presence of his wife and kids.
The organisation also alleged that Bonet’s family and legal representatives have since been denied access to him, while security agencies have allegedly refused to reveal his whereabouts.
It accused Nigerian security agencies of abandoning due process and allowing themselves to be used to suppress dissent through arbitrary arrests and detentions.
“Nigerian security agencies must always respect due process of law and not become a tool in the hands of politicians by engaging in 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 organisation also accused the Kaduna State Government of increasing repression by targeting critics, warning that this was creating “a toxic climate of fear” in the state.
It further accused Governor Uba Sani of showing intolerance to criticism, insisting that no citizen should be punished for expressing opinions about elected public officials.
Amnesty International also warned about what it called the increasing intimidation of Nigerians who use social media to comment on political and social issues, noting that efforts to stifle online criticism are a violation of basic human rights.
The organization urged the authorities to release Bonet forthwith and uphold the rights guaranteed by Nigerian law and international human rights standards.
At the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security agencies were yet to respond to Amnesty International’s allegations.
