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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said that the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association has intervened to end the harassment of #BringBackOurGirls protesters and has asked for additional information on the matter.
This followed SERAP’s urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, Mr. Maina Kiai, on September 9, 2016 drawing his attention to continuing harassment and intimidation of the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group by the Nigerian authorities, and the impermissible restrictions on the rights of members to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, who disclosed the development today said SERAP has been in communication with the Consultant Equality, Non-Discrimination and Participation Unit UN Special Procedures Branch (SPB), Marion Mondain, who confirmed the Special Rapporteur’s interest in the matter and asked for additional information.
According to Mumuni, “SERAP has worked closely with the BBOG leaders to provide the Office of the Special Rapporteur with the information requested. We are very grateful for the interest shown by the Special Rapporteur in taking action in this matter, as we believe the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and protest is so fundamental that it cannot and should never be denied under any pretext whatsoever.”
“The consideration of the matter by the Special Rapporteur is indeed timely as the BBOG marks later this week the 900th day of the Chibok girls in Boko Haram’s captivity. We hope that this government will allow the members of the BBOG and other Nigerians who may wish to do so to peacefully exercise their constitutional and internationally recognized right to freedom of assembly,” Mumuni said.
The additional information that SERAP in consultation with the BBOG sent to the Officer of the Special Rapporteur reads in part, “Following the release of the ‘Plea-for-Rescue’ video on 14 August 2016 wherein the Chibok girls, abducted from their school Government Secondary School, Chibok on 14 April 2014 and have been in captivity since then cried out for help; the BBOG movement expected a strong response and decisive action from the federal government. The Police was combat armed and their provocative actions against the protesters could have easily degenerated to a major breakdown of law and order. The Inspector General of Police was inciting the public against BBOG humanity-based advocacy for abducted school children by impugning the motives of BBOG members. His actions are targeted at maligning and tarnishing the reputation of BBOG Movement in order to weaken BBOG advocacy.”
SERAP said BBOG decided to embark on a 14-day series of strategic engagements to protest against the inexplicable apathy of such monumental tragedy and blight on humanity, adding that BBOG activities during the period included four marches to the State House every three working days.
The group added that as is characteristic of BBOG movement, it wrote to the President and the Inspector General of Police ahead of time. Both letters were received and duly acknowledged by their respective offices.
According to him, “BBOG successfully carried out most of their public activities without disturbance nor hindrance. However, on Tuesday 6 September, BBOG saw in the media that the Police Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command had issued a public announcement specifically warning BBOG movement against engaging on their march which was to the State House that day. The Police said that the BBOG movement had failed to secure ‘police approval’ and so were not to march because according to them ‘These indiscriminate actions which are carried out in disorderly and sometimes riotous manner create unwarranted tension and apprehension among law abiding citizens and in the process obstruct legitimate business activities.’”
SERAP said that at BBOG usual meeting grounds in Abuja, Unity Fountain later that morning, they met a detachment of up to 100 anti-riot police men and women, many of them bearing arms.
It added that BBOG members were approached by one Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alamutu, that he had orders from ‘above’ to stop the march and to limit all BBOG activities within the boundaries of the Unity Fountain.
He threatened the necessary use of force to ensure the order if BBOG protesters became uncooperative.
According to SERAP BBOG responded that they were acting within their Citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed to right to freedoms of thought, conscience, association, peaceful assembly, movement, etc fell on deaf ears.
All efforts to make the Police contingent see that their oppressive action was illegal and a violation of the 1999 Constitution did not dissuade them from barricading BBOG protesters from moving out of the Unity Fountain.
“At this point, BBOG made a decision to proceed on their march by walking through human barriers in a civil manner on to the Shehu Shagari Way. As BBOG protesters marched on, the over 100 police officers walked alongside BBOG movement until when ten minutes into this, they once again formed a human barricade and disrupted BBOG procession. This time, ACP Abiodun Alamutu was adamant that BBOG would not be permitted to continue the march and should therefore hold their meetings at the spot of police barricade.” said
