SERAP Urges Commonwealth to Sanction Nigeria Over Attacks on Journalists, Protesters

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Commonwealth to impose sanctions on Nigeria in response to reports of attacks on journalists and peaceful protesters during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations across the country.

In an appeal addressed to Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, SERAP urged the organization to hold Nigerian authorities accountable under the Commonwealth Charter. The group emphasized the need for prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations into the reported attacks and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, highlighted the importance of protecting journalists and upholding media freedom, urging the Commonwealth to push Nigeria to ensure the safety of journalists covering protests and to publish the results of any investigations. The appeal also called for justice and effective remedies for the affected journalists and protesters.

SERAP’s urgent appeal, dated August 3, 2024, was also copied to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The appeal criticized the Nigerian government for its repeated failure to protect human rights and called on the Commonwealth to take a strong stand in defense of media freedom and peaceful assembly.

“The targeting of journalists with lethal or less-lethal force for doing their work is prohibited under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law,” SERAP stated. “Those violating such standards must be held accountable.”

SERAP’s statement highlighted the legal obligations of Nigerian authorities to protect journalists and investigate any violations that occur during public demonstrations, including attacks on the press. It also underscored the importance of media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly, as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and various international human rights treaties.

The group further urged that any journalists or peaceful protesters detained solely for exercising their rights should be immediately and unconditionally released. SERAP emphasized that law enforcement should only use force in exceptional circumstances, and any use of force must be necessary, proportionate, and targeted.

The statement cited several incidents in which journalists were attacked or arrested while covering protests, including the shooting at a car transporting journalists in Abuja, the arrest of a freelance journalist and protesters in the Federal Capital Territory, and the arrest of nine journalists in Borno State. SERAP noted that over 50 journalists had reportedly been arrested while covering the protests.

“The presence of journalists at protests promotes transparency and accountability,” SERAP argued. “Journalists have the right to observe and monitor protests and to record reactions from officials and other actors.”

The organization concluded by calling on Nigerian authorities to ensure the highest degree of protection for journalists, prohibiting the confiscation or destruction of their equipment, and guaranteeing their right to cover protests without interference.