Amnesty International, a prominent global human rights organization, has sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its increasing harassment, arrests, and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers, and bloggers.
The organization described these actions as a reckless and large-scale effort to suppress dissenting voices across the nation. Amnesty International expressed concern over the escalating pattern of arbitrary arrests and smear campaigns initiated by the Nigerian government, specifically targeting investigative journalists and whistleblowers. These actions, the organization warned, are troubling indicators of growing violations of fundamental human rights in Nigeria.
Amnesty International further cautioned that the government’s ongoing attempts to silence those exposing corruption and mismanagement could place these individuals in even greater danger.
In a statement on its X account, Amnesty International remarked, “In recent months, President Bola Tinubu’s government has intensified its harassment, arrests, and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers, and bloggers in a reckless and large-scale attempt to suppress dissenting voices in the country. This is unacceptable.”
The organization highlighted the growing pattern of arbitrary arrests and smear campaigns as alarming signs of increasing human rights violations, which endanger those committed to revealing corruption and mismanagement within the government. The statement from Amnesty International comes amid ongoing crackdowns on journalists, whistleblowers, bloggers, and individuals protesting against widespread hunger, hardship, and poor governance under the Tinubu administration.
In related news, SaharaReporters recently reported that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the detention of Nigerian whistleblower Isaac Bristol, believed to be behind the well-known whistleblower account “PIDOM Nigeria,” at Kuje Correctional Centre until September 23.
Bristol is currently facing nine charges related to cybercrime, brought against him by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). He was arraigned before Justice Nwite for allegedly mobilizing support to pressure the government into action through the #EndBadGovernance protest, making false money-laundering allegations against President Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining, and disseminating classified documents, in violation of the Official Secrets Act of 1962.
President Bola Tinubu's government had over the recent months escalated its spate of harassment, arrests and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers and bloggers in a reckless and large scale attempt to muzzle dissenting voices in the country. This is unacceptable.
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) September 4, 2024
SaharaReporters also reported that the Nigeria Police Force linked investigative journalist David Hundeyin and another individual, Michael Alade, to Bristol in the alleged cybercrime case. ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, stated that the arrests were made to protect national security and maintain public order. Adejobi also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate Hundeyin and Alade.
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