Maryam Awaisu, the author and activist who was arrested in Kaduna yesterday for championing the cause of sexual violence victims in Northern Nigeria,
Maryam Awaisu, the author and activist who was arrested in Kaduna yesterday for championing the cause of sexual violence victims in Northern Nigeria, has been released. According to a tweet by Amnesty International who pressured the police for her release, it said, “Maryam Awaisu @Ice131Queen has been released. Though she is free now, her arrest and detention were aimed at intimidating women rights activists pursuing justice for victims of sexual violence. “Brave women leading #ArewaMeToo movement, to bring to justice sexual violators have been receiving threats, bullying online & other forms of intimidation. The arrest of Maryam Awaisu @Ice131Queen by a Special Anti-Robbery Squad of @PoliceNG is part of wider intimidation.”
Awaisu had been arrested at her office in Kaduna State by a convoy of officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, who took her to their Abuja office, for allegedly championing the cause of those, who were detailing their experience with sexual assault via the Twitter hashtag, #ArewaMeToo.
