By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A non-government organisation, Spaces for Change, has said that the iron-fist clampdown on #RevolutionNow protesters by security forces, was cruel and barbaric.
In a statement signed by Zikora Ibeh on behalf of the organisation, it noted the increasing trend of attacks, criminalization, and militarization of peaceful protests in Nigeria, and said that the brutal way #RevolutionNow protesters were repressed on August 5, was only symptomatic of Nigeria’s rapidly closing civic space.
“On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, both federal and state security enforcers brutally attacked citizens on a peaceful march for the revival of the country’s dwindling economy, security infrastructure, and state of governance,” Ibeh said in the statement.
She said media reports were replete of how a protester was flogged with an iron rod, while another was chained, blood was seen gushing out of the head of an unfortunate citizen whom security operatives had viciously shaved off his hair with a knife and broken bottle. She said more reports have since continued to flood the news of the gross human rights abuses that trailed #RevolutionNow demonstrations.
“It is unfortunate to note that security officials who are bound by duty and law to ensure the safety of citizens have departed from their core mandate,” the statement said.
Ibeh said it was ironic that COVID-19 public health and safety measures was used as the pretext for the repression of the #RevolutionNow protest as justified in the statement of FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma. She said in the same FCT, just a few weeks ago, a crowd of supporters and well-wishers had gathered without regard for COVID-19 safety protocol and there was no opposition of security agents as they pay their last respects at the burial of a high ranking government official.
“It is also imperative to note that this exact protest was launched last year on the same date as yesterday but was met with a similar onslaught from security agents which led to the mass arrests and detention of protesters, including the lead organiser, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.
“The persistent attacks on protesters underscore the government’s rising intolerance for dissent and negative trend of restrictions overwhelming the country’s civic space.
“Only this morning, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a callous dismissal, described the nationwide #RevolutionNow protests as a child’s play, adding salt to the injuries of all the young Nigerians brutalized yesterday for daring to express their genuine concerns on the present state of affairs in the country,” the statement said.
Ibeh said over the past few years, Nigeria has observed the steady decline of civic freedoms in the country which has manifested in various forms of threats such as punitive actions on journalists for engaging in their journalistic duties, the criminalization of lawful assemblies and free speech, arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens for exercising their democratic rights amongst many others.
“To further buttress this, we also like to note that a few days ago, Nigerians were rudely shocked by the news that the Federal Government had arbitrarily hiked the Hate Speech fine by an astronomical N4.5M as against the former N500,000 during a review of the country’s Broadcasting Code. This increase is not only a seeming attempt to gag the press but a testament to the government’s growing contempt for free speech and media freedoms. On the digital database, www.closingspace.org, attacks on press freedom, free speech, and lawful assemblies, accordingly, constitute the highest forms of attacks on the rights of citizens in the country.
‘Targeted attacks of citizens on peaceful marches and expression of their thoughts on national issues portray a complete disregard for the important role of citizen engagement in the growth and development of any economy.
“Beyond the spate of attacks on civic freedoms in the country, we must also inform the Nigerian Government and all its law enforcement agencies to respect the rights and dignities of all Nigerians as provided by Sections 34, 37 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and other international human rights treaties and legal instruments of which Nigeria is a signatory to.
“Our democracy is in retreat and at-risk where elements of a progressive civic space are unjustly suppressed by the government and its relevant apparatuses!
“Finally, SPACES FOR CHANGE demands the immediate and unconditional release of all demonstrators arrested and still held in custody in all states where the #RevolutionNow protest held yesterday. Instead of its increasing and typical defensive approach to handling citizens’ civic expressions, we advise the Nigerian government to instead adopt the use of humane, legal, progressive and responsive measures to address the valid concerns of citizens,” the statement said.
