Nigerian TikToker, Junaidu ‘Abusalma’ Abdullahi Remanded In Prison After Calling For Protest Against Hardship
His arrest came after he posted a viral video calling for widespread protests against the country’s economic hardship.
Junaidu Abdullahi, a well-known TikTok creator, Junaidu Abdullahi, who goes by the handle Abusalma, has been arrested and remanded in prison custody.
His arrest came after he posted a viral video calling for widespread protests against the country’s economic hardship.
According to reports, security agents detained Abusalma on Wednesday and transported him to Abuja, where he was subsequently arraigned in court and remanded in Kano prison.
A relative of Abusalma, Mustapha Hamza, confirmed the situation to Daily Nigerian and revealed that the TikTok personality is currently being held at Kurmawa prison in Kano.
Hamza said, “He left home in a hurry on Wednesday morning after receiving an urgent call around 8:30 am. He left without even eating breakfast. That was the last time his family saw him.
“We reported the matter to the police station, and they immediately made a radio call, declaring him as a missing person.
“As we continued searching for his whereabouts, I received a call yesterday (Friday) around 5:30pm, with the caller informing me that Junaidu is at Kurmawa prison in Kano. He further revealed that Court 38 Zungeru Road, Kano ordered his remand and adjourned the case till after three weeks.”
In a recent video, the TikTok creator, Abusalma, suggested that any Islamic cleric who publicly opposes the planned protest should be removed from their position of authority.
“Any religious leader who spoke against peaceful protest over hardship, then he is not part of those suffering.
“And whoever stops you from expressing your grievances to your leaders through peaceful protest as provided by the constitution, I swear he is not among those who can’t afford a sack of maize at N100,000.
“I personally bought a bag of fertilizer at N49,000. That was the price of a sack of maize in the past. As I speak to you now, I gathered that the price of fertilizer has increased.
“I am not calling for violence or destruction, but we will come out and protest in a lawful manner. It is the responsibility of government to deal with those that cause breakdown of law and order during the protest.
“The government has allowed terrorists to terrorise the people but they are trying to suppress a protest. Protest does not breed terrorism or banditry.
“If protest will lead to overthrow of the government, so be it. Any cleric who preaches against protest, pull him down from the pulpit… Pull him down!
“Let’s protest peacefully in order to be heard. We are not calling on government to buy cars or planes or yacht for the masses, we are only after the food to eat,” Abusalma said in the viral video.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Abusalma deleted the video just a couple of days after posting it and issued a public apology to the Islamic clerics.
Moreover, he made a U-turn on his previous stance by urging people to avoid participating in the protest, citing concerns that it could lead to a breakdown in law and order.
This sudden change in stance has sparked curiosity and debate among his followers and the wider public.
