The sentencing of 18-year-old Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff by a Sokoto court has sparked widespread outrage on X (formerly Twitter) and beyond, as Nigerians express shock over what many are calling a gross abuse of justice.

Shariff, who was arrested in November 2024, had posted several videos online lamenting the worsening insecurity in her Sokoto community—where residents live in fear of bandit attacks, displacement, and the rape of women.

In the videos, Shariff voiced her frustrations about the government\'s failure to act, painting a grim picture of life in Sokoto. However, authorities accused her of inciting unrest and insulting Governor Ahmed Aliyu in a TikTok post—allegations that were later contradicted by a court-reviewed transcript of her videos, which showed no offensive or inciting content.

The situation took a disturbing turn when Shariff was reportedly abducted by armed men while attempting to retrieve her phone. She was allegedly beaten and thrown from a moving tricycle, sustaining serious injuries.

After the incident, she was arraigned before both Sharia and Magistrates’ Courts in Sokoto. At a February 2025 hearing, the police prosecutor presented translated transcripts of her videos and a flash drive as evidence. It was also revealed under cross-examination that her statement was taken without legal representation, raising major concerns about the fairness of the trial.

Despite these irregularities, the court handed down a shocking sentence: 12 strokes of the cane, two years in prison, or a fine of ₦50,000.

The verdict has drawn condemnation from rights activists and civil society groups. Amnesty International described her treatment as \"an abuse of power designed to silence critics,\" urging authorities to redirect their focus to the real crisis—the deepening insecurity in Sokoto, where killings, kidnappings, and village raids continue to endanger lives daily.

Many Nigerians are now calling for her immediate release, arguing that Shariff’s