By PERPETUA ONUEGBU

A coalition of civil society organisations has called for the release of a Sokoto State-based social critic, Miss Hamdiyyah Sharif, from police custody.

The CSOs, led by the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, made the call on Friday in Abuja.

Rafsanjani said that the CSOs were concerned about the continued detention of Sharif, whom he described as a young Nigerian teenager, social commentator and advocate for improved governance and citizens welfare in Sokoto State.

He recalled that Sharif had tried to draw the attention of the state government to the security situation in her community, resulting in bandit attacks, killings and displacements.

Rafsanjani said that the young woman was also concerned about why officials of the state government had yet to visit the community to sympathise with the residents.

He said that Sharif, who was recently declared missing by her legal counsel, was reportedly found later in a hospital in Bakura, Zamfara, in circumstances yet to be fully clarified.

Rafsanjani, therefore, called for immediate release of Sharif, who is reportedly in the custody of the police in Zanfara, and protection of her civil rights.

On his part, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr Isa Sanusi, called for the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police in the matter.

Also speaking, Omolara Balogun, the Country Lead, West Africa Civil Society Institute (Node Nigeria), called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sharif?s disappearance and the role played by the state government.

Balogun also called for the intervention of the First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Sokoto State Governor, Fatima Ahmed Aliyu and all women in public leadership positions.

The Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Mr Dauda Garuba, stressed the need for protection of the youth in the country, saying that the civic space should be open to everyone to make inputs. (NAN)

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