The Borno State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Sainna Buba, has formally retracted controversial comments he made at a political event and issued a public apology following condemnation from civil society groups and human rights organizations.
Speaking at a press briefing in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the Commissioner said his remarks at the City Boy Movement Empowerment Programme were misinterpreted and never intended to undermine citizens’ constitutional rights.
“I wish to state unequivocally that my remark was never intended to harm or violate the fundamental right of the people of our dear state to freedom of choice and association, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Hon. Buba said.
He said he had previously explained that the comment was not meant to be taken literally. In light of continued public concern, he formally withdrew it.
“I hereby retract my earlier statement and apologize to the entire people of Borno State and beyond for any offense it may have caused,” he said.
The Commissioner distanced his remarks from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
“This administration does not undermine the rights of our citizens. The party and the government continue to uphold and respect every segment of our society, particularly our youth,” he added.
The retraction came after the Network of Civil Society Organizations, Borno State (NECSOB) condemned a viral video in which the Commissioner was heard threatening to “cut off” or “break” the fingers of political dissenters. In the same footage, he was alleged to have said government welfare would be limited to ruling party loyalists, while non-supporters would be “flogged.
In a statement signed by Executive Director Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman, NECSOB said it was “deeply concerned.”
The group argued that tying public welfare to political allegiance violates Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution. “Government welfare is funded by public revenues, not party coffers, and must be administered equitably to all citizens,” the statement read.
NECSOB also warned that violent rhetoric, whether literal or figurative, risks normalizing political violence in a state still recovering from more than a decade of insurgency.
“Public officials occupy positions of trust where words carry legal and social weight. Aggressive language undermines public confidence in state institutions,” the group said.
NECSOB called on the Borno State Government to reaffirm its commitment to political inclusivity and human rights. It also urged cabinet members and political parties to avoid divisive and coercive language, and asked security agencies to monitor political activities to prevent intimidation.
Amnesty International also weighed in, saying it was “deeply concerned” that no action had been taken against Mr. Buba for remarks made at an APC rally in Maiduguri on 29 August.
“Threatening those who may not vote for APC with ‘cutting off fingers’ is not and cannot in any way be figurative. It is a direct threat. The Commissioner is a danger to democracy and must face justice for incitement,” the organization said in a statement.
Amnesty stressed that the human rights of Borno residents must be protected ahead of the 2027 general elections. “People must be free to vote without anything or anyone undermining their right to make political choices. In a democracy, people are entitled to civic space, freedom and justice,” it said.
The organization added that it would continue to document and preserve evidence of incitement, threats, and abuses before, during and after the elections.
Governor Zulum and the APC, the Commissioner said, “have consistently demonstrated a true democratic spirit over the past seven years, and this commitment will remain unwavering to the end of his tenure.”