Civil Society Groups Condemn Harassment of Amnesty International Nigeria, Demand Immediate Action by Tinubu Government
Maryam Aminu
Over 60 civil society organizations (CSOs) have called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to halt the alleged harassment and threats against Amnesty International Nigeria and other rights groups.
The groups condemned the Nigeria Police Force’s actions, which they described as a systematic crackdown on civic space and human rights in the country.
In a joint statement, the CSOs expressed deep concern over a letter dated January 6, 2025, from the police, threatening Amnesty International with legal action over its recent report, “Nigeria: Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protests.” The protests, which took place in August 2024, highlighted grievances against governance in Nigeria.
Reports from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) revealed that 27 protesters were killed by police, with about 800 others arrested. Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, stated that 22 protesters lost their lives while over 2,000 were detained nationwide during the protests.
The CSOs criticized the government’s lack of accountability, stating that instead of addressing the allegations of human rights violations and abuses, the authorities were targeting Amnesty International and other organizations.
“This harassment is an alarming escalation of repression against activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. It has severely undermined the space for legitimate human rights activities and freedom of expression,” the statement read.
The groups also decried Nigeria’s apparent disregard for its constitutional and international obligations to protect civil liberties.
They called for an independent investigation into the allegations of human rights violations during the protests and demanded justice for victims and their families.
The CSOs expressed solidarity with Amnesty International, urging the Tinubu administration to immediately direct the police to cease all forms of harassment and allow the organization to continue its work without fear of reprisals.
They further demanded an end to the broader repression of civic space in Nigeria, including the intimidation of activists, journalists, and other CSOs, and called for measures to create a safe environment for the exercise of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Signatories
The statement was endorsed by a diverse coalition of organizations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC),CLEEN Foundation,
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Connected Development (CODE), Yiaga Africa, 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative,Accountability Lab, Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
among others.
The groups reiterated their commitment to defending human rights and ensuring that Nigeria upholds the principles of democracy, justice, and rule of law.
