National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Tayo Olanipekun
The Amnesty International (AI) has given a scathing report on Nigeria for 2017, accusing the country of carrying out extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, attacks on journalists, forcible evictions and crackdown on protesters.
In its report released on Thursday, AI said torture and other ill-treatment and unlawful detention by the police and the State Security Service (SSS) continued, much as it noted that “the military arbitrarily arrested and held thousands of young men, women and children in detention centres around the country.”
“As we enter the year in which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70, it is abundantly clear that none of us can take our human rights for granted,” remarked Secretary General, Amnesty International, Salil Shetty.
According to the report, authorities in Lagos, Imo and Rivers states continued to “forcibly evict thousands of residents, without adequate notice, compensation, or the provision of alternative accommodation and resettlement.”
It noted that in Lagos State, at least 5,000 people were forcibly evicted from Otodo-Gbame and Ilubirin waterfront communities between March and April, in violation of previous Lagos State High Court orders restraining the state authorities from demolishing the homes of affected communities consisting of at least 300,000 residents.
“In March, the Lagos State government pulled out of the consultations, saying the communities’ demand for resettlement was unreasonable,” AI said.
On freedom of the press, AI cited the cases of journalists with Premium Times, Leadership newspaper and three bloggers arrested and detained by security agents for expressing their views.
“On 19 January, police raided the offices of Premium Times and arrested
publisher Dapo Olorunyomi and correspondent Evelyn Okakwu for several
hours, after the Chief of Army Staff accused the newspaper of offensive publications.
“On 19 April, Kaduna State police arrested and detained Midat Joseph, a journalist with Leadership newspaper, for a WhatsApp comment. He was taken to court the next day on charges of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance and injurious falsehood.
“On 19 September, the Katsina State police arrested three bloggers, Jamil Mabai, Bashir Dauda and Umar Faruq, for criticizing the Governor. Bashir Dauda and Umar Faruq were released after one week and Jamil
“Audu Maikori, who was arrested for publishing false information online, was awarded 40 million naira (USD112,700) in compensation for unlawful arrest and detention,” Reported AI.
