In response to the enforced disappearance of Samira Sabou, a prominent Nigerian journalist and blogger, who was seized from her residence on September 30 by masked individuals identifying themselves as security agents, Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher with Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa, released a statement:

We are profoundly disturbed by Samira Sabou’s enforced disappearance and urge the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) to promptly disclose her location and ensure her immediate and unconditional freedom. Should the authorities genuinely be unaware of her detention site, they must launch an investigation without delay to ascertain her whereabouts. Each passing day constitutes a further infringement on Samira Sabou’s rights to liberty and a fair trial, simultaneously exposing her to the grave risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment.

Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa

Samira Sabou is a human rights advocate deeply committed to defending fundamental freedoms and exposing corruption. Her enforced disappearance is highly likely connected to her robust activism and her recent criticisms regarding arbitrary arrests carried out by the CNSP.

“Niger has ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We strongly appeal to the CNSP to uphold its human rights obligations under both national and international law, which include prohibiting enforced disappearances and safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression and press freedom. We also call upon them to respect and protect human rights defenders, whose rights are guaranteed by Articles 4, 6, and 7 of the June 2022 law on the rights and duties of human rights defenders, as well as by international legal frameworks.”

Additional Background

Samira Sabou serves as a journalist, activist, and president of Niger’s bloggers’ association. On September 30, 2023, she was apprehended at her mother’s home in Niamey by several masked men who claimed to be members of the security forces. These individuals presented identification and insisted that Samira accompany them into a vehicle, where she was blindfolded and transported to an undisclosed location, unknown to her family or legal counsel. Neither her family nor her lawyer has been able to communicate with her or ascertain her destination since her arrest. The criminal investigation department of the Niamey police also asserts no knowledge of the incident.

Other violations have recently targeted individuals merely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

On October 3, Samira Ibrahim, a social media user known as “Precious Mimi,” received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 300,000 CFA francs (479 USD) for “producing data likely to disturb public order.” Her charges stemmed from a Facebook post where she referenced Algeria’s refusal to recognize the new Nigerian government.