he had insulted the Prophet Muhammad on TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT Facebook. Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician, Torture and other ill-treatment remained remained in detention following a death pervasive within the criminal justice system. sentence for blasphemy handed down in The police, military and DSS continued to 2020 by the Upper Shari’a Court in Kano. subject detainees to torture, as well as other JOURNALISTS cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. On 7 July, Nigeria’s media regulatory agency Kubiat Akpan was tortured to death within the National Broadcasting Commission asked hours of his arrest by police on 29 August in broadcast stations in Nigeria not to report the Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. details of attacks by bandits and insurgents ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES in the country. On 12 July, media organizations in Nigeria staged a campaign In the course of the year, Amnesty tagged “Information Blackout” to protest International received credible reports that against the proposed National Press Council security agencies, including officials from the bill and the application of some parts of the police and DSS, carried out arbitrary existing National Broadcasting Commission detentions and kept detainees (Media) Act. The two pieces of legislation, incommunicado. At least 200 people – which were under consideration by the including former militants from the Niger National Assembly, threatened to tighten Delta region, members of IPOB, #EndSARS regulation and undermine access to protesters and security suspects – were information. believed to have been subjected to On 28 August the DSS summoned television unresolved enforced disappearance during hosts Chamberlain Usor and Kayode Okikiolu the year. for questioning in relation to comments made EXCESSIVE AND UNNECESSARY USE OF by Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, FORCE during a live interview on Channels Television. The authorities alleged that the Security agencies used excessive force to governor’s comments were “inciting, divisive disperse peaceful protests and assemblies. and unfair”. On 20 September, Davou Bulus Bashi was ARBITRARY ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS shot dead by security officials while peacefully protesting with other students of At least 300 protesters remained in detention Plateau state Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi LGA, a year after the #EndSARS protest against the against the postponement of their exams. Nigerian security forces. Kemisola Ogunniyi, On 13 February, police arrested around 20 an 18-year-old woman who gave birth during protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos after her eight-month detention, was granted bail activists staged a protest against the on 25 June. reopening of the toll gate following the killing Three Israeli film makers, Rudy Rochman, of protesters at the venue in October 2020. Noam Leibman and David Benaym, were EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS arrested and detained by the DSS for 20 days without trial in inhumane conditions after Nigerian security forces killed at least 115 they were accused of having links with the people and committed numerous other banned group Indigenous People of Biafra human rights violations and crimes under (IPOB). international law in response to increasing Despite a court order granting her bail, violence and killings of their officers in south- Gloria Okolie remained in detention following eastern Nigeria. Their repressive campaign her arrest by the police on 17 June on also included mass arrests, excessive and suspicion of being the friend of a wanted unlawful force, and subjecting detainees to man. Her lawyers and family alleged that she torture and other ill-treatment. was ill-treated in detention. Amnesty International Report 2021/22 278