Amnesty International condemns siege to CDHR Lagos office

Amnesty International has expressed concern over the invasion of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights’ office in Ikeja, Lagos, by armed security personnel.

The Country Director of AI, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Policemen, soldiers and other security operatives reportedly invaded the Lagos venue for public symposium and candlelight in honour of those who died during the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest in the country.

The venue, Right House, located at 43 Adeniyi Jones, Oba Akran, Ikeja, is the headquarters of the CDHR.

Sanusi said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the unlawful invasion of the Ikeja Lagos office of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights.

“This coming days after the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress was ransacked, is a dangerous dimension to the attacks escalating attacks on human rights.

“Human rights defenders are increasingly at risk of violations by security agencies.

“The siege, which began at 5:00 am, has forced businesses in the area to close and prevented CDHR from carrying out its vital work promoting freedom.”

He emphasised that such attacks on human rights defenders and their offices “sent a message that authorities condone these violations.

The Nigerian authorities must investigate this incident and direct security personnel to immediately vacate the office, Amnesty International demanded.”

The organisation also condemned the
crackdown on protesters against hunger nationwide since August 1, 2024, and the subsequent attacks on civil society organizations, citing “a worrying indication of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s disregard for human rights and determination to crush dissent.

“As of 4:30 pm on Friday, the heavily armed contingent of policemen, soldiers, and other security personnel remained, laying siege to the area around the CDHR office,” the statement added.

Amnesty International urged the Nigerian authorities to end “attacks on human rights, respect the right to freedom of expression and association, and protect human rights defenders and civil society organizations from fear and intimidation.”