Nigeria, Oct. 5 -- Amnesty International has said there is escalating political repression in Borno State, alleging that authorities are using arrests and criminal charges to silence dissent in the northeastern state.

The rights group, in a post on X on Sunday, said 11 young men had been held at Maiduguri Maximum Prison since 28 August over allegations it described as politically motivated.

The men were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Wulari, Maiduguri, on 8 September.

They are Umar Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed, Mohammed Ali, Abubakar Dauda, Hussaini Umar, Yunusa Salaima, Sulaiman Mohammed, Liti Adamu, Idris Yusuf, another Mohammed Ali, and a person identified as Warrata, Na Hannun Gomna, Yambo and One Five.

According to the...