TheCable

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked President Muhammadu to direct Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, to end the invasion of the Abuja office of Amnesty International by some protesters.

A group of protesters has besieged the office of the human rights watchdog in Abuja.

The protesters are demanding that the organisation leave Nigeria over its alleged exaggerated reports of human rights abuses by security agencies.

In an open letter on Wednesday, Falana urged the president to urgently intervene in the brewing crisis.

“I am writing to request you to use your good offices and leadership position to direct the inspector-general of police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris to end the invasion of Amnesty International office in Abuja, and the harassment of the organisation’s staff,” he said.

“I note that Amnesty International (AI) is a well-known international NGO and among other NGOs operating legally in the country. I recall that upon your election as president you met with the leadership of Al and promised among other things to look into the allegations of serious human rights violations and abuses allegedly committed by the military as contained in the reports published by the organisation.

“I am seriously concerned that the police would allow some apparently hired protesters to invade the AI office in Abuja in broad daylight and subject its staff members to intimidation and harassment. These intruders have impeded the work of the organisation and threatened the safety and security of its members of staff who are all Nigerian citizens.

“AI should not be harassed and stigmatised simply for exposing the human rights violations and abuses by the military in the north-east of the country. To allow that to happen is to endanger and undermine the work of not only AI but also other civil society groups in the country. This will in turn create a climate of fear and send an intimidating message to the human rights movement in particular and the entire country in general.

“It is not a crime for AI to expose the serious human rights violations and abuses allegedly committed by the military in the north-east. It is in fact consistent with the organisation’s mandate to defend human rights.

“Human rights work is imperative to ensure that millions of marginalised and disadvantaged Nigerians can fully enjoy their entitlements and realise their potential. Therefore, consistent with UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders, your government should publicly reinstate support for the legitimate work of civil society groups including AI and other international NGO operating in the country, and provide them with protection.”

Falana called on the president to “direct the inspector-general of police to immediately remove the invaders from the office allow the organisation to carry out its human rights work in a conducive environment”.

He also urged Buhari to direct Idris to fish out those behind the invasion of AI office and to bring them to justice, saying “it is imperative for your government to publicly condemn acts of intimidation and reprisals against AI and other civil society groups”.