SERAP CAUTION: Buhari against plot to chase Amnesty Int’l out of Nigeria

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has expressed worries over the Monday protests and ultimatum that Amnesty International should quit Nigeria in the next 24 hours.

The group has therefore called on both President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to “urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate apparently sponsored and coordinated attacks against Amnesty International Office in Nigeria, and ensure the safety and security of its staff.”

A group of protesters had on Monday barricaded the Abuja office of Amnesty International and asked the international organisation to quit Nigeria within 24 hours.

Melvin Ejeh, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, warned that the group would lead other Nigerians on a five-day ‘Occupy Amnesty International’ protest as a first warning, if the organisation fails to shut down its operations and leave the country within the next 24 hours.

But SERAP, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale, demanded that Nigeria’s Federal Government “act swiftly to end the increasing and apparently sponsored attacks, intimidation, harassment and threats against Amnesty International Office in Nigeria and its staff”.

According to SERAP, any failure to hold to account those who may be responsible will invariably increase the vulnerability of civil society in the country, and strengthen the perception that attacks against NGOs and human rights workers can happen with impunity.

“If the Buhari government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the mob attack on Amnesty International or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will be compelled to take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally including approaching the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for a remedy.

“SERAP will continue to work to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country. We urge the presidency to speak out strongly against intimidation and harassment of Amnesty International Office in Nigeria and its staff. Investigating the attacks against AI, naming and shaming the sponsors and bringing them to justice will send a powerful message of protection and support to civil society groups who stand up to speak truth to power.

“Any attack on Amnesty International Office in Nigeria or harassment and intimidation of its staff members is an assault on the entire human rights community in the country. Sponsoring protests against NGOs that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

“Under the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and international human rights law, everyone whose rights are violated is entitled to a right to an effective remedy. Exposing human rights violations and seeking redress for them is largely dependent on the degree of security enjoyed by civil society groups and human rights defenders. Protecting NGOs against sponsored attacks and ending impunity for such attacks is therefore a critical element in the promotion and protection of human rights in this country.”

The protests against AI may not be unconnected with recent reports by the global human rights body which revealed that 240 people, including infants lost their lives in a military detention centre in Borno in 2016 and that 177 pro-Biafran agitators were extra-judicially killed in the same year by Nigeria security operatives. Nigerian Army has however denied the claims contained in the report.

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