*Demands immediate release of #EndSARS protestors in custody
Wale Igbintade
Ahead of the visit of the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken to Nigeria, the Africa Advocacy Director of Amnesty International USA, Kate Hixon, has asked the diplomat to engage President Bola Tinubu on issues of human rights in the country.
A statement by Amnesty International Nigeria’s Executive Director, Isa Sanusi, said Hixon urged the US diplomat to prevail on the Tinubu’s administration to honour the right to freedom of expression in the country.
She also reminded Blinken that the Nigerian military has repeatedly harmed civilians with little accountability, urging the US top diplomat to press for investigations and accountability for all civilian deaths caused by the military.
Hixton equally called on Blinken to prevail on President Tinubu to do more than issue statements and actually ensure justice and accountability for civilians harmed by armed groups on Christmas Eve in Plateau State.
“Secretary Blinken’s trip to Nigeria is a great opportunity for US engagement with the new Tinubu’s administration, but will only be successful if human rights are front and center. The Nigerian military has repeatedly harmed civilians with little accountability, particularly during airstrikes while fighting armed militias. Secretary Blinken must press for investigations and accountability for all civilian deaths caused by the military.
“As we saw during the recent Christmas Eve attack in Plateau State, the Tinubu government is failing on its promise to protect civilians. Secretary Blinken must urge President Tinubu to do more than issue statements and actually ensure justice and accountability for civilians harmed by armed groups. The Nigerian government must do this without further harming civilians in its response.”
On his part, the Executive Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Sanusi, asked Blinken to press for the release of Mubarak Bala, Yahaya Aminu-Sharif, and Ismaila Sani Isah, currently in jail for blasphemy accusations, adding that charges related to blasphemy against Rhoda Jatau must also be dropped unconditionally.
The statement added: “As we saw during the recent Christmas Eve attack in Plateau State, the Tinubu’s government is failing on its promise to protect civilians. Secretary Blinken must urge President Tinubu to do more than issue statements and actually ensure justice and accountability for civilians harmed by armed groups. The Nigerian government must do this without further harming civilians in its response.
“In Nigeria, it is imperative that Secretary Blinken raise the ongoing harassment of human rights defenders and journalists, such as Omoyele Sowore, who is facing flawed charges solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
“Secretary Blinken must also press for the release of Mubarak Bala, Yahaya Aminu-Sharif, and Ismaila Sani Isah, currently in jail for blasphemy accusations. Charges related to blasphemy against Rhoda Jatau must also be dropped unconditionally.
“Secretary Blinken must also press for the immediate release of the remaining #EndSARS protestors who continue to be detained years after their protests without due process or even a trial. If the Tinubu Administration is to remain committed to accountability, it must release these remaining protesters.
“In addition, Secretary Blinken must press for the full implementation of the findings of the investigation of the killings of peaceful #EndSARS protesters by the military and police. All atrocities committed by the police before and after the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) must be investigated. Victims must also receive compensation, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
