The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately instruct the Department of State Services, DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of its organization, as well as the threat of arrest against its directors.
In a statement on Monday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization warned that failure to act would result in legal action both domestically and internationally.
The invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office by DSS operatives follows SERAP’s recent call on the Tinubu administration to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC to reverse what they described as an illegal and unconstitutional hike in fuel prices and to investigate allegations of corruption within the NNPC.
“If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group, we will take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations,” Oluwadare stated.
He further added, “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.”
SERAP expressed deep concern over the growing restrictions on civic space and the worsening crackdown on human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations, NGOs.
“The escalating crackdown on human rights and the harassment of NGOs hurt those most in need and contribute to a culture of impunity,” the statement noted.
SERAP urged President Tinubu to ensure a thorough investigation into the invasion and to bring those responsible to justice.
“President Tinubu must urgently instruct the appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved,” the organization demanded.
SERAP also called for the Nigerian government to respect their right to carry out their mandate freely.
“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognized under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The group reiterated its commitment to continuing its work despite the harassment.
“SERAP will continue to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence, or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country.”
Recall that the DSS operatives earlier on Monday took control of SERAP’s office in Abuja, sparking widespread condemnation from the human rights community.
