The Rule of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre has characterized the recent security forces’ siege on the secretariat of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights amidst ongoing hunger protests as a clear sign of the country’s gradual descent towards despotism, according to a statement released.
Expressing concern, Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, emphasized that it is the government’s duty to protect and facilitate citizens’ right to peaceful assembly, rather than suppress or limit it.
Nwanguma stressed the importance of the government acknowledging and respecting the rights of citizens to peacefully air their grievances and demand accountability in governance.
Pointing out the actions of security forces during the protests, Nwanguma mentioned, “security forces have resorted to brutal measures against peaceful protesters advocating against mass hunger, poverty, and for good governance, resulting in casualties, injuries, and arrests.”
He also highlighted a similar incident where security forces raided the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters, allegedly in search of materials linked to the protests, further indicating a troubling pattern of clampdown on dissent.
Emphasizing the fundamental nature of the right to peaceful assembly, Nwanguma condemned the actions of security agencies violating this right and stressed the necessity for the government to engage constructively with citizens rather than resorting to force.
The group urged the President, as the head of the armed forces and police, to ensure the protection of human rights, denounce abuses, hold perpetrators accountable, and ultimately restore public trust in state institutions and democracy.