Her lawyer, Abba Hikima, raised the alarm in a Facebook post on Wednesday, revealing that the 18-year-old girl left her residence around 10am to buy foodstuffs and has not been seen since.

The whereabouts of a teenage activist, Hamdiyya Sidi Shareef, remain unknown after she mysteriously disappeared on Tuesday morning in Sokoto State amid ongoing legal and political persecution allegedly orchestrated by Governor Ahmad Aliyu.

Her lawyer, Abba Hikima, raised the alarm in a Facebook post on Wednesday, revealing that the 18-year-old girl left her residence around 10am to buy foodstuffs and has not been seen since.

“She went out to buy foodstuffs in Sokoto and has not been seen since. The Sokoto State Police has already been informed,” Hikima posted.

Hamdiyya rose to prominence in November 2024 after she was arrested, secretly arraigned, and allegedly assaulted by agents of the Sokoto State government for a TikTok video in which she criticised Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration. 

The charges filed against her include “use of insulting or abusive language” and “inciting disturbance.

The teenage activist was denied access to legal representation and her family during her arraignment, a move rights advocates described as a blatant violation of her constitutional rights. 

Since then, she has remained entangled in a legal tug-of-war with the Sokoto State government, while facing threats and cyberbullying allegedly from political loyalists of the governor.

While rumours recently circulated on social media claiming that Hamdiyya had been sentenced to two years in prison, 12 strokes of the cane, or a fine, her lawyer has categorically debunked the reports.

“We urge the public and the media to disregard and debunk any reports or rumours suggesting that Hamdiyya has been sentenced. Such information is false and misleading,” Hikima clarified.

He also confirmed that the case was adjourned until the 22nd and 23rd of May, when more defence witnesses are expected to testify.

"The case is still ongoing. We just concluded proceedings with the commencement of the defence case. We presented one of our planned defence witnesses, who was successfully taken by the court," Hikima said in April.

However, her sudden disappearance has raised fears that state authorities or affiliated actors may be involved, given the recent history of harassment and state-sponsored intimidation she has faced.

As of press time, the Sokoto State Police Command has not issued any official statement concerning her disappearance, while Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s media aides have remained silent.

The state police spokesperson, Rufai Ahmad, did not answer calls and has yet to respond to text messages sent requesting his reaction to Hamdiyya's sudden disappearance.