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Summary
18-year-old activist Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff has not been sentenced to prison or flogging, contrary to viral reports. Her politically motivated trial before a Sokoto Shariah court is still ongoing and continues April 22–23, 2025.
Summary:
Viral reports claiming 18-year-old activist Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff has been sentenced to prison and flogging are false. Amnesty International Nigeria confirms that her trial before a Sokoto Shariah court is still ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for Apr. 22–23, 2025. Hamdiyya faces politically motivated charges for speaking out against insecurity and the exploitation of women in Sokoto State.
Claim:
On Apr. 11, 2025, Trending EX, a blog on X (formerly Twitter), claimed that 18-year-old activist Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff had been sentenced to two years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane by a Sokoto court. Their post currently has 11k likes, 7.5k quotes/reposts, 2.4k comments and 1.2m views.
NFM Checks
Over the weekend, a viral post by Trending EX sparked outrage on social media, alleging that Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff — the 18-year-old activist arrested in November 2024 for criticising the Sokoto State government — had been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, alongside 12 strokes of the cane.
However, this claim is false. According to a verified statement from Amnesty International Nigeria, Hamdiyya has not been sentenced.
“Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff has not been sentenced. Her lawyers, led by Abba Hikima, opened a defence yesterday (April 10, 2025). The trial will continue between April 22 and 23 before a Sokoto Shari’ah Court,” Amnesty International Nigeria stated.
Amnesty International Nigeria also described the charges against her as “bogus” and called the trial a sham. The Sokoto State government is currently charging Hamdiyya with “inciting women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties” — a claim widely criticised by rights groups.
Hamdiyya’s case first gained attention when she was abducted, beaten, and thrown out of a moving tricycle by armed men — shortly before her arrest on Nov. 13, 2024. In a viral TikTok video, she had accused the state of neglecting victims of banditry and ignoring the exploitation of displaced women in Sokoto.
Despite the trauma she has endured, the state continues to prosecute her for simply exercising her right to speak up. Amnesty has urged the government to drop the charges and protect Hamdiyya and her legal team from further harassment and threats.
Conclusion:
Hamdiyya Sidi Shariff has NOT been sentenced to prison or flogging. Her trial is ongoing and will continue on April 22–23.
Naija Feminists Media is committed to fighting gendered disinformation and misinformation that concerns women.
