Amnesty International said the current ongoing arbitrary arrests and smear campaigns by the Nigerian government, targeting investigative journalists and whistleblowers are worrying signs of the growing violations of fundamental human rights.
A global human rights organisation, Amnesty International has knocked President Bola Tinubu’s administration for escalating its harassment, arrests and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers, and bloggers.
The organisation described the oppressive actions of the government as a reckless and large-scale attempt to muzzle dissenting voices in the country.
Amnesty International said the current ongoing arbitrary arrests and smear campaigns by the Nigerian government, targeting investigative journalists and whistleblowers are worrying signs of the growing violations of fundamental human rights.
According to the organisation, the Nigerian government’s attempt to muzzle dissenting voices will further endanger those committed to exposing corruption and mismanagement.
In a post on its X account, Amnesty International said, “President Bola Tinubu's government had over the recent months escalated its spate of harassment, arrests and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers and bloggers in a reckless and large scale attempt to muzzle dissenting voices in the country. This is unacceptable.
“Arbitrary arrests and smear campaigns by the Nigerian government, targeting investigative journalists and whistleblowers are worrying signs of the growing violations of fundamental human rights that further endanger those committed to exposing corruption and mismanagement.”
President Bola Tinubu's government had over the recent months escalated its spate of harassment, arrests and intimidation of journalists, whistleblowers and bloggers in a reckless and large scale attempt to muzzle dissenting voices in the country. This is unacceptable.
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) September 4, 2024
Amnesty International’s statement comes amid the government’s sustained clampdown on journalists, whistleblowers, bloggers and those who are protesting against acute hunger, hardship and bad governance in the country under President Tinubu.
SaharaReporters had reported that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Tuesday ordered that a Nigerian whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, believed to be behind the prominent whistleblower account "PIDOM Nigeria", be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre till September 23.
Isaac is facing trial on nine-count charges bordering on cybercrime related offences filed against him by the police.
He was arraigned before Justice Nwite by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for allegedly mobilising and soliciting support to “unduly compel” the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest, false money-laundering allegations against President Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents in contravention of the official Secret Act 1962.
SaharaReporters also reported that the Nigeria Police Force also linked an investigative journalist, David Hundeyin and one Michael Alade to Isaac in the alleged cybercrime case.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who declared Hundeyin and Alade wanted said the arrest of Isaac was done to safeguard national security and uphold public order.
Adejobi confirmed that efforts were ongoing to trace Hundeyin and Alade.
“The discreet investigation was initiated to identify those responsible for the leakage, which led to the identification of Bristol Isaac, Michael Temidayo Alade, and David Hundeyin who are suspects in connection with the alleged crimes,” the Force spokesperson said.