TheCable

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil society organisation, has condemned the attack on protesters by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

On Tuesday, protesters converged on the headquarters of the agency, asking the secret police to obey court orders and release Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow movement.

Sowore, who was arrested in Lagos on August 3, is still in detention despite meeting the bail conditions granted to him by a federal high court in Abuja.

In a statement, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy executive director, said the attack violates the country’s constitution and international human rights obligations.

“We’ve seen a video footage apparently showing the use of lethal and excessive force by Nigerian security agents against peaceful protesters demanding the release of Sowore and Bakare as ordered by the court. We condemn the ruthless violence and shocking abuses against protesters,” Oluwadare said.

“@UNHumanRights @UN_SPExperts @davidakaye should urgently respond to the rule of law and rights crisis in Nigeria and call on the authorities to end this brutality. It is high time to ramp up monitoring on the situation in Nigeria and to send investigators to the country at once.

“The use of lethal and excessive force violates the very core of Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations. This should end immediately, and those responsible should be held to account.

“Nigerian authorities should immediately obey ALL court orders and specifically the court order for the release of Sowore and Bakare from arbitrary detention.

“We strongly condemn the violent attack on Yemi Adamolekun by Nigeria’s security agents while peacefully protesting and demanding the release of Sowore and Bakare as ordered by the court. Authorities should end these ruthless attacks & reverse the deepening climate of fear faced by critics.”