Bisina Somto, PBA Journalism Mentee
Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to put in place an effective protection mechanism for safety and liberty of human rights defenders in the country.
In a statement released on Sunday October 23, the international civil rights advocacy group raised the alarm over growing threats to lives of two human rights activists in recent times following their revelation of corrupt activities in some public offices.
One of them is Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).
Nwanguma was said to have revealed the alleged release of suspects arrested for their involvement in oil theft and adulteration of petroleum by the Edo State Police Command on 7 October 2022, after allegedly receiving a bribe of N7 million.
The group stated that Nwanguma had to go into hiding following threats to his life for revealing the alleged corruption.
“Since the issuance of the statement, Okechukwu Nwanguma has received multiple threats and an official invitation from the Edo state Police Command dated 21 October 2022.”
The group also stated that on September 13th 2022, Richard Oghenehoro Martins a Senior Grade Level 8 (SGL.08), Higher Executive Officer of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, also a Whistle-blower, “informed Amnesty International of the multiple threats, including calls from unknown numbers threatening to kill him after risking his life and career to speak up against the corrupt fraudulent hiring of new staff and the issuance of fake letters of appointment at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing that led to the disengagement of several affected staff”.
Amnesty International said it considers Okechukwu Nwanguma and Richard Oghenehoro Martins as brave human rights defenders and finds their continued threats unacceptable, and therefore, called on the Nigerian government, to ensure that an effective and functional protection mechanism is put in place and promptly, carry out a thorough, independent and impartial investigation of threats and attacks on human rights defenders, journalists, and whistleblowers in full adherence to national and international standards.
“We demand that the police provide adequate protection to ensure their safety and liberty and prosecute all individuals including security officials involved in their harassment and intimidation.”
