Operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) have taken control of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), prompting widespread criticism.
The DSS officers reportedly entered the premises and demanded to see the directors of the human rights organization. This action has been condemned by several prominent figures, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana.
Falana described the invasion as unlawful and an abuse of power, urging the Federal Government to prosecute those responsible and ensure that human rights defenders can operate freely.
SERAP has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately and direct the DSS to cease the harassment and intimidation of its staff and other Nigerians.
The incident has raised concerns about the freedom and safety of human rights organizations in Nigeria, with Amnesty International also condemning the invasion as a chilling signal that could prevent such organizations from performing their essential work.
A post on SERAP’s X (Twitter) handle read: “Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.
“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”
SERAP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, legal and advocacy organisation devoted to promoting transparency, accountability and respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria.
The organization had barely 24 hours ago before the clampdown also urged President Bola Tinubu to leverage his leadership and authority to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to promptly reverse the seemingly illegal and unconstitutional hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, at its retail outlets, TheNiche report stated.
NNPCL had last Tuesday, announced an increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol. The hike took the pump price for petrol from N617/litre to N897/liter, depending on location.
It only took a short statement from the NNPCL to effect the new price regime. The release stated; “This is to inform you that NNPC Retail Management has approved upward review of PMS pump price from N617/itre to N897/liter effective today, 3rd September, 2024. Please ensure all your pumps and totems (price boards)/MIDs reflect the new PMS price of N897/liter. Thank you”.
The invasion of SERAP’s office took place as the DSS arrested the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, earlier in the day.
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