The United States Congress, Washington DC, has condemned the
continued detention of the publisher of the Sahara Reporters,
Omoyele Sowore, Jones Abiri, Kofi Bartels, Samuel Ogundipe and some
other journalists and activists by the Nigerian government.
This was as the Congress also expressed worries and concerns
over what it said was the closure of the media and civic space in
Nigeria, noting that the actions of the government and the security
agencies reflected lack of commitment to civic freedoms.
The US Congress made the allegations in a letter dated 25
November 2019 and addressed to Ambassador Sylvanus Nsofor, Head of
Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Washington DC,
USA.
It noted that the repressive actions of the Nigerian government
were becoming more alarming in view of the fact that the government
has been defying series of court orders freeing some of the
detainees and also resorting to using of excessive force against
non-violent protesters in some parts of the country.
The Congress, in the letter signed by Senator Robert Menedez and
a member of the Congress, Josh Gottheimer, sighted on Wednesday by
the Nigerian Tribune, condemned the Nigerian government for
harassing and detaining Sowore and others, whom it said were
investigating and speaking out against politically-sensitive
problems, including corruption and insecurity.
“A number of troubling reports about Nigerian security services
assaulting and detaining journalists, using excessive force on
non-violent protesters and taking other actions that inhibit
freedom of expression, and otherwise prevent Nigerians from fully
exercising their fundamental constitutional rights,” the Congress
wrote.
Alleging that there were reports of torture of some of the
detainees, the Congress wrote: “In, at least, one instance, the
Department of Security Services (DSS) has ignored a court order to
release a detained activist.
“Restrictions and deadly crackdowns on non-violent protests
since 2015 have similarly reflected a lack of apparent commitment
to civic freedoms which is beginning to negatively impact the image
of Nigeria’s government, both at home and abroad.
“Security forces used live ammunition on Shiite protesters in
Zaria, Kaduna State in 2015; on protesters in Onitsha, Anambra
State in 2016; again on a Shiite procession in Abuja in 2018;
raided the office Daily Trust, and arrested the editor in January
2019; and shot and killed Precious Owolabi , a journalist covering
a July 2019 protest in Abuja.
“These crackdowns have collectively killed hundreds of Nigerian
citizens, and serve as troubling demonstration of the excessive
force used by the military. The alleged perpetrators of these
abuse(s) have yet to be brought to justice.”
The US Congress, in the letter, noted that Nigeria has a
critical role to play in preserving peace and stability in the West
African sub-region, adding that, as the most populous democracy on
the African Continent, it could serve as a shining example of how
countries can best observe the rights enshrined in the African
Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
“However, failure to respect the rights in the Charter and those
in Nigeria’s own constitution undermine your nations’ ability to
lead in this area.
“We urge you to ensure that the rights and liberties contained
in the constitution are observed for all citizens, and to take
action against further closing space for journalists, political
opposition and those in civil society. The rights of all citizens
must be respected without the threat of government reprisal. We
look forward to seeing progress on this critically important
issue,” the letter read.
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