Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the intensifying crackdown by the Department of State Services (DSS) on social media discussions surrounding the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Reports indicate that at least two individuals, both from Kaduna, have been apprehended, with one facing a questionable judicial process under dubious charges.
The organization also highlighted instances of individuals being summoned by the DSS for voicing criticisms against the governments of the United States and Israel.
In a press release filed on Friday, Amnesty International stated, "These escalating authoritarian measures by Nigerian authorities compromise human rights and the perceived impartiality of state institutions, fostering a climate of fear."
Furthermore, the organization emphasized that the right to criticise government policies and leadership is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and is supported by international human rights agreements, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Nigeria has ratified.
Amnesty International called on Nigerian officials to cease the rising oppression and assaults on critics simply for exercising their rights peacefully. Targeting people for expressing dissent regarding the US and Israeli administrations communicates a distressing precedent that peaceful opposition is unwelcome in Nigeria.
The organization urged the Nigerian authorities to safeguard the human rights of all citizens, ensuring the right to express opinions both online and offline while refraining from punitive actions against critics of the United States and Israel.
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