In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, 67 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) urged President Bola Tinubu to put an end to the ongoing crackdown on activists, journalists, and other Nigerians who are peacefully exercising their rights.
The organizations condemned the recent intimidation, harassment, and threats against Amnesty International by the Nigeria Police Force over its report on the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The CSOs expressed grave concern over the police’s legal threats against Amnesty International regarding the organization’s report, “Nigeria: Bloody August,” which highlights the violent suppression of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The report noted that the police killed at least 27 protesters and arrested approximately 800 during the protests in August 2024.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana also cited reports of 22 deaths and over 2,000 arrests.
The statement further emphasized the failure of Nigerian authorities to investigate these alleged human rights violations effectively.
Instead of addressing these grave concerns, the CSOs accused the police of focusing on intimidating organizations like Amnesty International, which have been highlighting human rights abuses.
This has contributed to the repression of civic space, threatening the ability of activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and others to carry out their work freely.
The CSOs demanded that the Tinubu administration take immediate action to end the harassment against Amnesty International and allow the organization to continue its human rights activities without fear of retaliation.
Additionally, they called for a comprehensive, impartial investigation into the human rights violations during the protests and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The statement concluded by urging the government to halt all forms of repression, judicial harassment, and intimidation against civil society groups and ensure that the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association are respected in the country.
The CSOs expressed their solidarity with Amnesty International and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding human rights in Nigeria.
