BEVERLY HILLS, December 24, (THEWILL) – Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned the United Nations over violent attacks on activists, Deji Adeyanju and other protesters in Abuja.
SERAP wrote to the UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Clement Voule, expressing concerns urging him to “publicly express concerns about the growing human rights violations and abuses in Nigeria and call on the authorities to end violent attacks on peaceful protesters.
In the petition dated 24 December 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP alleged that, “Nigerian authorities and police on Monday morning in Abuja failed to stop attacks on peaceful demonstrators by young men apparently armed with sticks and sharp objects. The police officers who were present did not intervene decisively to stop the attacks or arrest any attackers.”
The organization said: “The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and international law to protect the safety and rights of protesters and create an environment conducive to a diverse and pluralistic expression of ideas and dissent from government policy.
“The wave of protests against repression by both the Federal and State authorities illustrates a broken social contract between the authorities and Nigerians. The authorities have been failing to meet the demands of Nigerians to respect human rights, end restrictions on civic space, obey court orders and ensure the rule of law.
“Deji Adeyanju, one of the protesters, was hospitalised after sustaining bruises on his left arm. Protesters were reportedly chased from the Secretariat of the National Human Rights Commission where they had gathered to deliver a petition to the commission.”
The petition copied to Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, read in part: “The failure to hold to account those responsible have continued to increase the vulnerability of protesters and activists in the country.”
