HURIWA Appeals to UN for Protection of Peaceful Protesters Ahead of October 1 Demonstration
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva and the UN Secretary-General in New York to intervene and pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against deploying armed security forces against peaceful demonstrators set to protest on October 1, 2024. The protest aims to highlight the rising cost of living and issues related to governance in Nigeria.
HURIWA’s urgent appeal arises from concerns that the Nigerian government plans to send heavily armed personnel to suppress the demonstration, reminiscent of the tragic events of August 2024, during which some peaceful protesters reportedly lost their lives amid the #EndBadGovernance protests nationwide.
In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, the group warned military and police leaders that they could face accountability at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for any unlawful actions against peaceful protesters. “We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for these actions will be identified and held accountable,” Onwubiko stated.
HURIWA expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the international community, including leaders like U.S. President Joe Biden and the Prime Ministers of the UK and Canada, regarding the extrajudicial killings of protesters in Nigeria. The group criticized this “conspiratorial silence,” highlighting that the ongoing suppression of civic freedoms threatens Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Emphasizing the UNHRC’s mandate to protect human rights defenders, HURIWA reminded the council that member nations like Nigeria, which are signatories to various human rights treaties, have an obligation to uphold fundamental freedoms. The group referenced the UNHRC’s declaration that “everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association,” which are vital for a functioning democracy.
HURIWA urged the UN to provide technical assistance and monitoring on safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly, as well as support for managing protests, advising on appropriate uses of force and fostering dialogue to address the protesters’ grievances.
The rights organization also expressed frustration with the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Human Rights Council for not condemning the alleged unlawful killings carried out by Nigeria’s democratically elected government. HURIWA firmly opposes the use of force against peaceful demonstrators and denounced the government’s attempts to undermine constitutional freedoms through legal manipulations and ex-parte orders.
