ABUJA, Nigeria (Nov. 12, 2024) — Leading civil society organizations have called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to end alleged intimidation and harassment of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and to cease increasing pressure on human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.
This was contained in a statement released on Tuesday and co-signed by Amnesty International Nigeria, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, YIAGA, and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre.
The organizations expressed concern following the recent legal actions and investigations targeting SERAP, a prominent anti-corruption group in Nigeria. Authorities filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the organization shortly after it urged President Tinubu to investigate alleged corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and reduce fuel prices. SERAP reported that Department of State Services (DSS) agents visited its Abuja office unexpectedly, interrogating staff and seeking its directors.
“Some officers from DSS invaded our Abuja office. A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man,” SERAP disclosed, adding that two unmarked vehicles were stationed outside. “The officers who interrogated our staff requested to see our directors,” they added.
The coalition of human rights groups, which includes Amnesty International Nigeria, Budgit, Accountability Lab, and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), condemned the legal case and what it described as a broader attempt to suppress dissent and civil rights. “This intimidatory tactic by the Tinubu government against SERAP solely for peacefully carrying out its mandate illustrates the growing repression of civil society in Nigeria,” the groups said in a joint statement.
The coalition highlighted several other recent incidents as part of a pattern of harassment. In August, armed security personnel reportedly invaded the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights’ (CDHR) office in Lagos. In September, the DSS allegedly detained Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero at the Abuja airport, seized his passport, and arrested him. Journalists such as Dele Fasan, Daniel Ojukwu, and Fisayo Soyombo also reported facing repression simply for documenting protests and economic grievances.
“We express our unwavering support for SERAP,” the coalition declared, adding, “Nigeria is now rated as one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.”
Human rights advocates argue these incidents suggest an intention to silence civil society voices. “These cases appear designed to send a broader message of intimidation to Nigerian citizens, civil society organizations, journalists, and other civil society actors striving for human rights,” the coalition wrote.
The coalition emphasized that Nigeria’s Constitution, as well as international human rights agreements signed by the country, guarantee freedom of expression, assembly, and association. They stated that ongoing repression would only deepen impunity for rights violations and create a hostile environment for democracy.
“We therefore call on President Tinubu and his government to urgently reverse these dangerous trends and end the impunity of perpetrators for grave human rights violations,” the statement said, urging authorities to ensure civil society actors can operate freely without fear of reprisals.
“Nigerian authorities must uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations and end the brutal assault on the human rights community”, Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, concluded.
