A large contingent of security personnel, comprising agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police officers, has surrounded the office of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The security operatives laid siege to the office, known as Rights House, at 43, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, off Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, ahead of a public symposium and candlelight procession scheduled to take place on Friday.
The event, which is part of the #EndBadGovernance protests movement, aims to pay tribute to individuals who have lost their lives due to poor governance in Nigeria.
Organisers had invited the public to join the solemn gathering. Attendees were requested to wear black mourning attire and bring candles.
The CDHR had earlier called for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal amid the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, the CDHR criticized the president’s national broadcast for lacking specific timelines for his proposed promises. The organisation argued that the speech focused too much on the government’s perceived achievements, which have yet to positively impact the lives of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has swiftly condemned the invasion of the CDHR office by security personnel.
In a statement made available to newsmen by Director Amnesty International Nigeria Isa Sanusi said: “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the unlawful invasion of the Ikeja Lagos office of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) This coming days after the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was ransacked, is a dangerous dimension to the attacks escalating attacks on human rights. Human rights defenders are increasingly at the risk of violations by security agencies.
“Apart from forcing businesses around the area to abruptly close, the siege is also preventing CDHR from doing its vital work of promoting freedom. Such attacks on human rights defenders and their offices sends a message that authorities condone these violations. Commanders of security Lagos security agencies involved in this siege must be held to account for abusing their power.
“The office of the human rights defenders has been under the siege of dozens of heavily armed policemen, soldiers and other security personnel since 5:00am. The Nigerian authorities must investigate this incident and give clear directive to the security personnel to immediately vacate the office,” he stated.
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