We won’t be intimidated by sponsored protests against us —Amnesty International

Global rights group, Amnesty International has said it will not
be intimidated by those who have been sponsoring protests against
the organisation.

AI said this in a statement while reacting to some protests
which followed its condemnation of the Muhammadu Buhari-led
government over the proscription of the Islamic Movement of
Nigeria.’

The organisation noted that it had been working in Nigeria since
1967 and it would continue to hold the government accountable.

The statement read, “Amnesty International is a human rights
organisation and not affiliated to any interests, political,
religious or commercial. We have been working on Nigeria since 1967
– our role is to hold governments to their obligations to respect
and protect human rights, and to ensure that anyone whose rights
are violated has an effective remedy.

“For this reason, the organisation continues to call on the
Nigerian government to use its authority and resources to
investigate all allegations of human rights violations and abuses,
including of rape, torture, arbitrary detentions and unlawful
killings, to ensure reparation for the victims, to hold the
perpetrators accountable, and to ensure non-repetition of the
violations.

“Despite sponsored protests, we will not stay silent. In the
face of efforts to evade responsibility or to smear our
organisation, we will continue to raise our voices whenever and
wherever we see injustice, sexual abuse, discrimination against
women, or any other violations of human rights in Nigeria.”