Group decries increased rights violations in Nigeria

The Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) has decried the increase in human rights violations by the Federal Government.

Its co-convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, told journalists in Abuja that the violations have made the civil space highly corrosive, threatening the country’s democracy.

FNM lamented that clampdown on the press, assault on the judiciary and display of executive recklessness were becoming the order of the day, noting that the plan was to intimidate Nigerians.

The group, however, called on Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to undo his predecessor’s wrongs by returning the police to the path of professionalism and integrity.

Nigerians, it added, deserve a democratic police that serve and protect the people rather than a force that is a law unto itself.

According to Atoye, the illegal detention of civil rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, and leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, as well as the recent arrest of Senator Dino Melaye truly confirmed that the country is back to the Abacha era dictatorship.

His words: “Today, we rise as Nigerians, we rise as compatriots and we rise as activists determined to save our nation from hopelessness and anarchy. Our democracy is clearly in danger and on perilous path because the civil space is fast shrinking and giving way to dictatorship and totalitarianism.

“We rise to say that these tyrannical attacks on democracy, activists, media, judiciary, the legislature and the people cannot continue. We rise in defence of our nation and in condemnation of the assaults on our collective freedom.

“We march today, demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Nigeria. We march today to demand that the plight of the several millions of Nigerian students whose education has been truncated should no longer be ignored.

“We march today demanding that Nigeria must be free. We march today to tell those who think the people can be perpetually oppressed that the revolution has started.”