Nassirou Bodo was remanded in custody at the Niamey detention center following his appearance before the prosecutor’s office, local sources confirmed late Wednesday evening.
Civil society leader Kaka Touda corroborated the activist’s detention on a social media post, though details regarding the grounds for his arrest remain unclear. The activist was held in police custody prior to his formal incarceration.
Local press reports on Thursday indicated that Bodo faces charges of «spreading information likely to disrupt public order», a serious allegation under the current administration.
In an early-week social media statement, Bodo had urged Nigeriens to «organize sustained protests to reject state-imposed social violence», calling for a «one-year, renewable campaign starting June 1st».
Among the grievances he highlighted were «persistent insecurity across multiple regions» and the «unjust evictions» affecting residents near Niamey’s airport, a site targeted in a January 29 attack claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS). Authorities claim demolitions of allegedly «illegal structures» are necessary to «mitigate terrorist threats» against the capital.
The West African nation has faced escalating violence from jihadist factions linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, further straining an already tense political climate.
Since the military takeover in July 2023, Niger has witnessed a crackdown on dissent, with journalists and civil society figures facing arrests, detentions, and in some cases, convictions on charges such as defamation, national security violations, and conspiracy against state authority.
United Nations records indicate that 13 journalists were detained in Niger during 2025. Following months of imprisonment, three—including a correspondent for a major international broadcaster—were released in early May. However, five journalists remain behind bars, according to local press advocacy groups.
Among the most prominent detainees is Moussa Tchangari, a leading civil society voice and outspoken critic of the military leadership. Tchangari has been held since December 2024 on charges including «incitement to terrorism and undermining state security».
