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Amnesty International Calls On Tinubu To End Weaponisation Of Security Forces Against Sowore, Human Rights Defenders
The international organisation said, this year marks the second time Sowore has been assaulted by police.
Abuja, Nigeria– Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to end the ongoing intimidation and harassment of human rights defender Omoyele Sowore and other activists exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
In a statement released on Friday, the international organisation said, this year marks the second time Sowore has been assaulted by police.
According to the organisation, on August, security officers injured his right arm while attempting to transfer him to a secret location by force.
The rights group condemned the frequent targeting of activists, warning that such actions undermine fundamental freedoms.
Amnesty International urged President Bola Tinubu’s government to stop using security agencies as tools for harassment, intimidation, and abuse against critics, journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders, and to uphold the human rights of all citizens.
The statement read, “The Nigerian authorities must end the relentless and reckless initidation and harrassement of human rights defender Omoyele Sowore and other activists who have been excercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
“This is the second time the police assaulated Sowore – this year. In August, the police injured his right arm while trying to transfer him to a secret location by force.
‘The Nigeria Police must end its frequent violations of human rights through targeting of activists and undermining the right to freedom of assembly.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government end the weaponization of security agents to harass, intimidate, and abuse critics, human rights activists, journalists, and whistleblowers, and instead uphold the human rights of everyone in the country,” theyadded.
Sowore and fellow activists have repeatedly called for peaceful advocacy without fear of reprisal, a call echoed by international human rights oorganisations onitoring Nigeria’s adherence to global human rights standards.
