Thu. Feb 13th, 2025

Civil Society Organizations Condemn Police Harassment of Amnesty International, Demand Action from Tinubu Government

A coalition of 67 civil society organizations (CSOs) has strongly condemned the harassment, intimidation, and threats against Amnesty International Nigeria by the Nigerian Police Force, calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately halt the crackdown on human rights defenders, activists, and journalists in the country.

In a joint statement released on Monday, the CSOs expressed deep concern over a letter dated January 6, 2025, in which the police threatened Amnesty International with legal action following the organization’s report, “Nigeria: Bloody August: Nigerian government’s violent crackdown on #EndBadGovernance protests.”

According to the statement, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had previously reported that 27 protesters were killed by the police, and approximately 800 individuals were arrested during the August 2024 protests. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, also disclosed that 22 protesters were killed and over 2,000 arrested nationwide. Many protesters remain in detention without charges or trial.

The coalition criticized the government for failing to investigate the alleged human rights violations and abuses, including killings and unlawful detentions, and instead targeting Amnesty International for its work in documenting these atrocities.

“This harassment of Amnesty International reflects a disturbing pattern of repression against civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and journalists. The escalating crackdown undermines the civic space in Nigeria and infringes on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” the statement read.

The groups reminded the Tinubu administration of Nigeria’s obligations under the 1999 Constitution and international treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They called for the protection of civil liberties and the creation of an enabling environment for CSOs and human rights defenders to carry out their work without fear of reprisals.

The statement urged the Tinubu government to:
1. Direct the police to cease all forms of intimidation and harassment against Amnesty International.
2. Investigate the human rights abuses reported during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
3. Ensure justice and adequate compensation for victims and their families.
4. Respect the rule of law and human rights in all dealings with activists, journalists, and CSOs.

The coalition reaffirmed its solidarity with Amnesty International, emphasizing that the intimidation it faces is part of a broader crackdown on dissent and human rights advocacy in Nigeria.

The statement was signed by notable organizations, including Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT Foundation, CLEEN Foundation, Amnesty International Nigeria, and Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), among others.

This latest development adds to growing concerns over the shrinking civic space in Nigeria, as activists and organizations face increasing challenges in their efforts to hold the government accountable for human rights violations.

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