Nigerian student arrested over first lady's weight gain tweet

In Nigeria, the control of social networks by the authorities is frequently denounced.

AP - Jeff Chiu

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Nigerians are on social media after the arrest of a 23-year-old student who mocked the weight gain of President Muhammadu Buhari's wife on Twitter.

The controversial message was posted on the social network in June, but the young man was arrested by the police only a few days ago.

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With our correspondent in Lagos,

The information has just been made public, creating a strong emotion in Nigeria where the control of social networks by the authorities is frequently denounced.

The young Aminu was arrested in early November, according to his uncle, more than five months after posting a photo of President Muhammadu Buhari's wife on Twitter with a caption in Hausa language that could be translated as " 

 ”.

The 23-year-old, who is studying at a university in Jigawa state in northern Nigeria, was reportedly taken to Abuja, without his parents being informed.

His family now denounces the abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of the police.

Amnesty International called on Sunday 27 November for the authorities to put an end to this

 ".

There are strong suspicions that Aminu is being held in an unknown location in Abuja by Nigerian security operatives.

#FreeAminuAdamuMuhammed

— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) November 27, 2022

The control of social networks, by the authorities, is a sensitive subject in Nigeria where the social network

for over seven months.

In early November, two comedians from the large Muslim city of Kano were sentenced to 20 lashes for making fun of the local governor on TikTok.

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• Nigeria

• Social networks

• Muhammadu Buhari

• Twitter