Hamdiyya Shariff

Hamdiyya Shariff is an 18-year-old Nigerian activist who gained notoriety for her outspoken criticism of government inaction regarding insecurity in Sokoto State. On November 13, 2024, she was abducted and brutally assaulted for her remarks in a TikTok video, where she highlighted the rampant violence by bandits and the exploitation of displaced women. Subsequent to her abduction, she faced legal repercussions as authorities accused her of 'insulting' the governor and 'inciting disturbance', leading to a harsh sentence of corporal punishment and fines. Her case exemplifies the growing trend of repression in Nigeria, where dissent is increasingly met with violence and intimidation.