Buhari Lawlessness: Nigerian authorities must respect rights of protesters - SERAP

Asks the international communities to stand up for Nigerians and speak out against the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Nigeria

An NGO, Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has said that Nigerian authorities must respect and protect the fundamental rights of Nigerian people to peaceful protest rather than allowing ‘rented and sponsored groups’ to attack activists and journalists simply demanding the release of prisoners of conscience, respect for the rule of law.

SERAP,  a nonprofit, nonpartisan, legal & advocacy organisation devoted to promoting transparency, accountability & respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria (@SERAPNigeria)) said in a series of tweets that the authorities must now respect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, release ALL prisoners of conscience like Yele Sowore and Agba Jalingo, obey all court orders and effectively respect the rule of law.

Nigerians deserve better than this. 

Nigerian authorities must protect peaceful protesters.

 We urge Nigerian authorities and state governors to show commitment to the basic constitutional rights and dignity of all Nigerians including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end the impunity of perpetrators.

The Nigerian Government under Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) has been synonymous to a military styled autocratic regime where authorities have total disregards for fundamental human rights of the subjects and not the citizens.

Buhari led democratic regime has no respect for the rules of law but  disobeyed court orders at will.

Omoyele Sower and Olawale Bakare, Shiite Islamic leader Elzazakey, Agba Jalingo, Muhammad Sambo Dasuki that are still alive but in detentions contrary to the several court orders while many have been unlawfully and extra judicially killed under the Buhari lawless government either during protest or an intentional attacks by the military and other security forces in the country.

SERAP says Nigerians must begin to hold the country's leaders to account and speak truth to power. 

"We cannot afford to stay silent. All of us must come together and stand together, in solidarity; all Nigerians have a right to participate in decisions that have impact on their lives."

"We must come together now to shine a light on human rights violations and abuses and flagrant disregard for the rule of law by the President Buhari government and several state governors."

"We urge the international communities particularly the @UNHumanRights and @MBachelet the African Union and all countries with influence on Nigeria to stand up for Nigerians and speak out against the ongoing human rights violations and abuses in Nigeria" SERAP said.