The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of intimidation after operatives visited its Abuja office yesterday.
According to the organisation, “A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man.
“Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office.
“The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors.”
SERAP believes the visit followed its call for the reversal of the increase in the pump price of petrol.
Deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said in a statement: “The Tinubu administration must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members.”
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) added: “The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government.
“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted.
“The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
SERAP added: “The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders.
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“We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.
“President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved.
“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognized under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff.
“If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown…”
The Nation
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