Journalist, activist arrested; mass burial plans for 103 #EndSARS protest victims

General

The Nigerian government's ongoing military operation against Boko Haram has caused serious threat to civilians, including displacement, harm from disproportionate force, loss of property and loss of life, including civilian casualties of up to 350,000. Aid agencies and human rights organisations have not been granted full access to areas in the country in order to provide aid and also gather evidence and assess the situation. There are continued calls for an investigation by the international community into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

In July 2023, Human Rights Watch, CIVICUS and other organisations submitted shadow reports and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in connection with the country's fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Failings and shortcomings in the upholding of human rights since the previous UPR in 2018 included the inadequate protection of the right to freedom of association, concerns over legislation that could restrict freedom of expression, and multiple instances during the period under review during which protests were repressed and restricted

Expression

Journalist arrested

On 27th July 2023, police detained journalist and activist Chinonso Uba, also known as Nonso Nkwa, in Owerri, Imo State, after he finished his morning programme on radio station Ozisa FM. According to media reports, the Commissioner for Information in Imo State, Declan Emelumba, announced a day later that Uba was arrested on accusations of having defamed the state Governor, Hope Uzodinma. The accusations relate to social media posts by the journalist alleging that the Governor and a former Niger Delta militant leader were behind killings and insecurity in the state.

The journalist was arraigned three weeks later at a court in Abuja on charges under the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, namely making a false and defamatory video post on social media and making a social media post with the intention to bully, threaten or harass.

Civil society groups have criticised the detention. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) commented that the journalist’s arrest did not follow due process and that the state administration should have sued instead of arresting the journalist if convinced that the Governor was defamed.

According to news reports, the Federal Capital Court in Abuja ordered the immediate release of the journalist on 18th August 2023.

Peaceful Assembly

Leaked memo: mass burial of 103 #EndSARS protest victims

According to Amnesty International, a leaked memo addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health dated 19th July 2023, indicates that state authorities have earmarked funds for the mass burial of at least 103 individuals who were killed in October 2020 during the #End SARS protests against police brutality. It concerns bodies that had not been claimed. On 24th July 2023, state authorities confirmed the mass burial, but denied these were collected at Lekki Gate, where security forces opened fire on #EndSARS protesters.

Human rights groups have called for the suspension of the burial, autopsies of the 103 bodies and investigations into how they died, while also making the identities of the victims public.

Trade unions protest removal of fuel subsidy, soaring prices

On 2nd August 2023, trade unions started a week-long strike over the removal of a fuel subsidy, which trade unions say has led to soaring prices. According to news reports, trade unionists marched in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. The same day, the Federal Ministry of Justice filed a contempt suit against the organising trade unions, the umbrella Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress, over the strike. On 3rd August 2023, the strike was suspended following talks with President Bola Tinubu. After the NLC threatened a new strike action from 14th August 2023 over the contempt lawsuit, the Ministry of Justice complied and withdrew the contempt charge.

Association

Trade unionists detained

On 11th August 2023, the national secretariat office of Nigeria’s National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Garki 2, Abuja was raided by police. The union president, Tajudeen Baruwa, and three union officers were arrested. NURTW said later that no reason for the police action was given.

On 13th August, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), an umbrella organisation of all trade unions in Nigeria, issued a press release condemning the intimidation and harassment of trade union leaders. On 17th August 2023, Tajudeen Baruwa was released.

Human rights lawyer arbitrarily detained

On 17th June 2023, human rights lawyer Ayo Sogunro was released after 18 hours in arbitrary detention, according to media reports. The lawyer had reportedly been detained in his hotel room in Abuja after travelling to Nigeria to facilitate a human rights meeting with NGOs.