Amnesty International has described the arrest of popular Nigerian writer, Okey Ndibe who the Nigerian government
had place on watchlist, by the Department of State Security Services, DSS operatives, as attempt by to silent dissenting voices.
Ndibe, was detained earlier Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos upon his arrival from the United States by the secret police.
The veteran journalist alleged that the DSS claimed that his arrival in Nigeria was “suspicious when he was interrogated by the DSS, demanded that he disclose where he intended to go and whom he planned to visit in Nigeria, before he was let off the hook.
In a statement, Amnesty International, condemned strongly condemned the arrest of Ndibe in the incident which was later bizarrely described as “routine security engagement”.
It said, “it is clear that Nigerian authorities continue to implement a chilling plan of intimidating and harassing dissenting voices”.
Writer Okey Ndibe has been consistently targeted by Nigerian government, with arrests in 2011, 2013 and 2017 over criticism of the governments of Goodluck Jonathan and Late Muhammadu Buhari”, according to the human rights watch.
The group also noted that the existence of so-called ‘watchlist’ had provided an excuse for harassing journalists, writers and opposition figures.
It further insisted that rather than obsession with attempts to silence people expressing critical views and opinions, the Nigerian government should instead be facilitating freedom of expression and association, to fulfill its obligations under 1999 Constitution (as amended) and international law.
Commenting on the incident, Omoyele Sowore, the Convener of #Revolution Now, described the incident as yet another disturbing sign of the shrinking civic space under the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime”.
“From the harassment of journalists, activists, and dissenting voices to the increasing use of state institutions to intimidate critics, the pattern has reached an intolerable level that must be totally resisted.
“Many Nigerians witnessed the controversial judgment against SERAP, the growing attacks on free expression, and numerous other violations of civil liberties.
“Press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have also raised concerns about the treatment of journalists in recent years.
“A government that fears criticism inevitably fears democracy itself”, according to Sowore.
Hmmmmm