Amnesty Int’l Slams Nigerian Govt For Failing To Secure Lives, Properties

The human rights organisation, Amnesty International has slammed the federal government over its failure to ensure the safety of lives and properties across the country.

As a result, this situation has emboldened these perpetrators of injustice, AI noted.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the organisation’s Director in Nigeria, Ossai Ojigho during its 60th anniversary.

AI bemoaned that Nigeria has had a long history of human rights abuses.

“Not much has changed about human rights in Nigeria since 1967 and the concerns remain flagrant disregard for human rights, failure of authorities to protect the people, threats to human rights including the right to freedom of expression, suppression of dissenting voices, and lack of accountability,” Ojigho said.

“Incessant killings and the stunning failure of the authorities to end them and bring suspected perpetrators to justice have been and continues to be a threat to the right to life in Nigeria.”

While lamenting that Nigeria’s civic space is shrinking, Amnesty International faulted the incessant clampdown on protesters, describing that as a major violation of people’s rights.

“Protest is not a crime and Nigerians must be able to assemble peacefully and express themselves without fear,” Ojigho explained.

“We are concerned that the civic space is shrinking and the fear of violence by security forces and sponsored thugs are undermining the right to peaceful protest and having a profound impact on other human rights.”

Ripples Nigeria had repeatedly reported that the Nigerian police and other security forces have been repeatedly accused of rights violations.

According to Amnesty, the use of excessive force by the police remains a menace, and authorities have continued to pay lip service to the reformation of the security outfit.

“All the claims of reforming the police turned out to be ineffective. Despite the systemic human rights violations perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) no one has been held accountable,” it said.

The statement further added that the government has failed “in its constitutional and international human rights obligations to ensure access to justice for victims” of rape and abuses.

“Nigeria’s law enforcement and judicial system must be empowered to deliver justice,” it added.