The siege by security operatives on the Secretariat of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) at Adeniyi Jones, Oba Akran, Ikeja, in the early hours of Friday, August 9, 2024, is a further indication of the gradual but steady descent to despotism in Nigeria under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, said the Executive Director of Rule of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma.
According to him, security operatives from the Nigeria Police and State Security Service (SSS) besieged and surrounded the venue of a symposium planned for the last day of the 3-day mourning in honour of citizens brutally and extrajudicially killed by security forces across Nigeria over the #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria protests across Nigeria.
He said that security forces, in their brutal response to the peaceful protests by citizens against mass hunger and poverty and demand for good governance in Nigeria, had allegedly killed several protesters, injured several others, and arrested and detained many.
He added: “This siege at the CDHR Secretariat followed a similar siege the previous day by security forces on the headquarters of the NLC in Abuja who ransacked the offices purportedly in search of materials connected to the protests.
“Siege by security forces on a peaceful assembly of Nigerian citizens is a cause for serious concern. The right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right that is recognized and protected by international and regional human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a party.
“When citizens exercise their right to peaceful assembly, the government must protect and facilitate the exercise of this right, not to suppress or restrict it. However, security agencies clamping down on peaceful protesters violate this fundamental human right.
“The government must recognize and respect the rights of its citizens to express their grievances peacefully and seek accountability in governance. The use of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and detention of peaceful protesters undermines the rule of law and undermines the democratic principles of freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly.
“It is essential for the security agencies to be adequately trained and equipped to handle peaceful assemblies in line with international best practices. Security personnel must be mindful of the principles of proportionality, necessity, and use of force in dealing with peaceful assemblies.
“Government must respect and uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens, including the right to peaceful assembly. The use of force and coercion is not a solution to address grievances and could instead lead to further unrest and tension in the country. The government must engage with its citizens constructively to address their concerns and ensure inclusive development that benefits all citizens.”
He noted that the government should check overzealousness by security agencies who continue to violate the rights to peaceful assembly and expression and use lethal force against peaceful protesters.
“These actions demonstrate a worrying trend of militarization of state institutions in Nigeria and a disregard for democratic norms and values. The use of force should be proportionate and carried out in strict accordance with the law, and the military and security agencies must be held to account for human rights violations,” said Nwanguma.
He opined that as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and operational head of the Nigeria police, the President has a responsibility to ensure the protection of citizen’s human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly and expression, within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law.
He also maintained that the President should ensure that security forces were trained in human rights and international humanitarian law and that they operate under clear guidelines to uphold these values.
He further stated: “The President should also publicly condemn human rights abuses, order an end to any further human rights abuses by security agencies and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. This will help to restore public confidence in state institutions and promote a culture of respect for human rights, which is essential for consolidating democracy in Nigeria.”
