69 CSOs fume over poor state of democracy, human rights

From: Femi Oyela, Kaduna

69 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have expressed dismay over the poor state of democracy and human rights in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani,) on behalf of the CSOs.
The statement states that, “The actions taken by the government in recent weeks have raised serious concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in our nation.
“It is alarming to witness the increasing measures aimed at stifling voices that challenge the status quo, as well as the systematic targeting of organizations and individuals who advocate for transparency, accountability, and social justice.
According to the Executive Director, the rate at which the ruling All-Progressive Congress (APC) government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has resorted to utilizing Nigeria’s security agencies as instruments of harassment, intimidation, and suppression against Labour groups and vocal civil society organizations (CSOs) is alarming and disturbing.
He opined that the situation escalated dramatically when Nigerians took to the streets last month to peacefully protest against the worsening economic conditions and escalating insecurity in the country.
“Instead of engaging with the citizens and addressing their grievances, the Nigerian Police responded with excessive force. The deployment of tear gas and the unlawful detention of over 1,000 individuals during these protests exemplify a troubling disregard for the right to peaceful assembly.
“Tragically, this brutal response resulted in at least 30 fatalities, highlighting the severe consequences of the government’s heavy-handed approach to dissent.
“Moreover, the crackdown on dissent has extended to the arrest of minors, with several individuals aged between 14 and 17 facing treason charges. These young protesters, who were merely advocating for an end to bad governance under the #EndBadGovernance movement, are now entangled in a legal battle that could have devastating implications for their futures.
“This situation raises critical questions about the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of its citizens, particularly the youth, who are often the most vulnerable in times of political unrest.”