Responding to the invasion of the Abuja office of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said:
“Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by operatives of the DSS. President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to gag dissenting voices.”
The government of President Bola Tinubu should immediately instruct the DSS to stop their harassment and intimidation of SERAP and any other civil society groups in Nigeria simply for carrying out their legitimate work.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria
Nigerian authorities must end their escalating crackdown on civic space and independent human rights groups in the country, including through harassment, intimidation, and threats.
“The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS sends a chilling signal and prevents human rights organizations from carrying out their essential work to promote and protect human rights and accountability in the country.”
“Nigerian authorities must uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations, including the rights to freedom of expression and association, and end the growing impunity for violations of human rights in the country.”
“The invasion shows that Nigerian authorities are prepared to go to extreme lengths to stifle independent scrutiny and criticism, in clear violation of constitutional guarantees. This must stop.”
“Nigeria’s international and regional partners should press the authorities to uphold the human rights of those who defend the rights of others, journalists, and civil society groups in the country.”