Kaduna activist, Mahdi Shehu, remanded in prison over terrorism-related charges

Kaduna-based public commentator and activist Mahdi Shehu has been remanded in prison custody following his arraignment on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism, and inciting public disturbance.

The arraignment took place on Tuesday at the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kaduna.

The outspoken critic was charged under Section 26 (2)(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Section 78 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017. The charges stemmed from allegations that Shehu circulated false information on social media, sparking public unrest.

Shehu had taken to his X account (formerly Twitter) to claim that the Nigerian government was planning to host a French military base in the country’s North-East region. This assertion, he alleged, was based on comments made by Niger’s military leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani.

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However, the Nigerian government promptly debunked the claim, with fact-checks by credible media outlets revealing that the video Shehu used as evidence was a decade-old clip of Nigerian soldiers arriving at Bamako Airport in Mali for an ECOWAS peacekeeping mission. The video, originally posted on YouTube in January 2013, had no connection to Shehu’s allegations.

Shehu was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) following an investigation into the controversial post. Prosecutors argued that his actions amounted to incitement and posed a threat to national security.

At the hearing, Chief Magistrate Abubakar Lamido ordered Shehu to be remanded in prison custody until the next court session. The case was adjourned to January 14, 2025, for further hearing.

Mahdi Shehu is no stranger to controversy, having frequently criticized government policies and security operations. While his supporters see him as a voice for accountability, others accuse him of sensationalism and stoking public unrest.

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