Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Mr. Jonah Bonet, popularly known as “Pompo,” describing his arrest as arbitrary and a violation of his right to freedom of expression.

The rights organisation made its position known in a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, calling for Bonet’s immediate and unconditional release.

According to Amnesty International, Bonet was arrested solely for criticising the Kaduna State Government and Governor Uba Sani in a viral social media video.

“Mr. Bonet did not commit any crime, and his arrest is a clear abuse of power. It is perfectly within his right to criticise any government official — no matter his position or status,” the organisation stated.

Amnesty alleged that armed operatives attached to “Operation Fushin Kada” stormed Bonet’s residence in Abuja at about 8:15 p.m. on June 23, 2026, and took him away at gunpoint in the presence of his wife and children.

The organisation further claimed that Bonet’s family and legal representatives have since been denied access to him, while security agencies have allegedly refused to disclose his whereabouts.

It accused Nigerian security agencies of abandoning due process and allowing themselves to be used to suppress dissent through arbitrary arrests and detention.

“Nigerian security agencies must always uphold due process of law and not become a tool in the hands of politicians by carrying out arbitrary arrest, detention, and other undue restrictions of the rights of individuals to the legitimate exercise of their freedom of expression and opinion,” Amnesty said.

The organisation also alleged that the Kaduna State Government was becoming increasingly repressive by targeting critics, warning that such actions were creating “a toxic climate of fear” in the state.

It further accused Governor Uba Sani of displaying intolerance toward criticism, insisting that no citizen should be punished for expressing opinions about elected public officials.

Amnesty International also expressed concern over what it described as growing intimidation of Nigerians who use social media to comment on political and social issues, warning that attempts to silence online criticism constitute a violation of fundamental human rights.

The organisation called on the authorities to immediately release Bonet and respect the rights guaranteed under Nigerian law and international human rights standards.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security agencies had yet to respond to Amnesty International’s allegations.