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International human rights organisation Amnesty International has expressed concern over security agencies’ failure to hold the Borno State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sainna Buba, accountable after his alleged threats to flog anyone who does not support the All Progressives Congress in the state.
The organisation said it was concerned that security agencies had taken no action despite evidence of the commissioner’s remarks being publicly available.
Buba allegedly made the comments on Saturday at a campaign inauguration organised by the City Boy Movement in Maiduguri.
He also reportedly threatened to cut off the fingers of opposition members.
“Whoever raises their fingers against us, we will do the same to them. If you raise your fingers again, we will cut them off,” he said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Amnesty International described the commissioner as a threat to democratic participation and called for him to be held accountable over what it termed a subtle incitement of violence.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned that, up till now and despite publicly available evidence, security agencies have not taken any action to hold Mr Sainna Buba to account for his reckless and irresponsible remarks at a rally of the ruling APC in Maiduguri on August 29,” the organisation said.
“Threatening those who may not vote for APC is not and cannot in any way be figurative. It is a direct threat. The commissioner is a danger to democracy and must face justice for the subtle incitement.”
Amnesty International stressed that Borno residents must be able to exercise their political rights without intimidation or threats.
“People must be free to vote without anything or anyone undermining their right to make political choices. In democracy, people are entitled to an open civic space, freedom and justice. People’s right to personal liberty is paramount,” it said.
The organisation also said it would continue monitoring political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and preserving evidence of alleged threats and incitement.
“Amnesty International will continue to investigate, document and preserve evidence of incitement, threats and abuses before, during and after the 2027 general elections,” it added.
The commissioner, however, clarified his remarks, describing them as figurative.
“The meeting was purely APC members gathering, not political parties. It’s a City Boy Movement which was designed to promote economic empowerment, self-reliance, skills development and improved livelihoods, among party loyalists,” he said.
“We in the APC observed that immediately after the party’s primaries, some aggrieved members have started playing anti-party politics, and we felt it’s necessary to call them to order by telling them those who vote for APC candidates will be fed with honey, while those who don’t will be caned.”
