Hamdiyyah Sharif, a prominent critic of Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who was declared missing on Tuesday, has been found in critical condition at Bakura General Hospital in Zamfara State.
Her lawyer, Abba Hikima, confirmed the development in a Facebook post written in Hausa on Wednesday.
“We have been informed that Hamdiyyah is in the Bakura General Hospital in Zamfara State. She is in a critical condition. But there are security personnel with her,” he wrote.
Hamdiyyah was last seen around 10 a.m. on Tuesday after leaving her Sokoto residence to purchase food. Her sudden disappearance triggered widespread concern among her family, legal team, and human rights groups, especially given her contentious history with the state government.
A fierce critic of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Hamdiyyah had previously faced legal charges in 2024 for allegedly using “insulting or abusive language” and “inciting public disturbance” via her social media posts. Her prosecution drew national attention and condemnation from international bodies, including Amnesty International.
Fears for her safety were amplified by her lawyer, who pointed to prior threats and violence targeting her.
“Our fear is no more than the fact that she could not be found. Her situation could be anything. It could be that she is being tortured, or she could be lifeless,” Hikima said.
He added that she had previously survived a violent abduction in which she was strangled and beaten nearly to death. “Before now, this same girl was abducted and strangled and beaten almost to death,” he said, lamenting the authorities’ failure to investigate that earlier attack. “The Sokoto State government is saying nothing, despite the fact that the evil is perpetrated on Sokoto soil,” he added.
Amnesty International renewed calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into both her disappearance and the apparent lack of protection provided to her.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the organization noted that Hamdiyyah was due in court on May 21 for the continuation of her trial.
“Her lawyers and family have already reported the matter to security agencies in Sokoto and the court where she is standing trial,” the group stated.
Despite these developments, the Sokoto State Police Command claimed ignorance of her disappearance.
“We are not aware of her missing,” said police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai.
Hamdiyyah’s discovery, miles from her home and in a critical state, has intensified scrutiny of the state government and law enforcement, raising urgent questions about the safety of political dissenters in Nigeria.
