Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the intimidation of Amnesty International in Nigeria.
The rights group called on the Nigerian government to ensure the safety and security of its offices and staff.
This is contained in a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who vowed to hold the Nigerian government accountable.
Development Diaries understands that a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER), had purportedly given Amnesty International a seven-day ultimatum to leave Nigeria.
The ultimate was issued on the back of Amnesty International’s reporting of the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by the Nigerian military at the Lekki tollgate on 20 October.
CALSER accused Amnesty International of facilitating the widespread looting and arson in Nigeria.
The group had also threatened that Amnesty International’s ‘staffers will be treated the same way that innocent policemen lynched by mobs were treated’.
In his statement, Oluwadare advised the Nigerian authorities to stop the intimidation, harassment, and threats against Amnesty International and its staff.
‘We condemn purported “ultimatum” and threats of violence against Amnesty International in Nigeria by apparently pro-government groups and call on Nigerian authorities to act swiftly to end the harassment and intimidation against the group and ensure the safety and security of its staff’, the statement read.
‘We will hold authorities to account including through international legal action if they fail to rein in these groups and stop increasing and apparently sponsored attacks, intimidation, harassment and threats against Amnesty International Office in Nigeria and its staff
‘Any failure to hold to account those who may be responsible for the threats will invariably increase the vulnerability of civil society in the country, and strengthen the perception that threats against NGOs and human rights workers can happen with impunity.
‘We will continue to fight to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country’.
Amnesty International had raised the alarm over ‘outright threats to the lives of its staff by a faceless and unknown group’ and insists it will continue to speak up against injustice.
‘Amnesty International draws the attention of the Nigerian authorities and the general public to the intimidation and outright threats of attacks that were issued against its staff, supporters, and premises by a faceless and unknown group at a press conference held on 4 November 2020’, it said in a statement.
Source: Vanguard
Photo source: SERAP
