Pro-govt group attacks activists demanding release of 'illegally detained' Nigerians

Record ID: 1450091

  • Title: Pro-govt group attacks activists demanding release of 'illegally detained' Nigerians
  • Date: 23rd December 2019
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS HOLDING SIGNS POLICE PUSHING ORGANISER OF PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTEST, IBRAHIM KABIRU DALA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ORGANISER OF PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTEST, IBRAHIM KABIRU DALA, SAYING: "We are here to commend the government of president Muhammadu Buhari and the security personnel that they are doing a wonderful job and that we will not allow any other foreign mercenaries or opposition to come and sabotage the government of president Muhammadu Buhari." VARIOUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HOLDING SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF 'TAKE BACK' NIGERIA, JAYE GASKIYA, SAYING: "What has happened here today is the clearest indication yet and the most recent one that when we talk about the attack, the concerted attack on the public space, on the civic space, the shrinking of the civic space, the attack on the rule of law, the undermining of the rights and the violation, the deliberate violation of the rights of Nigerian citizens by those who are supposed to protect them, by the state that has the responsibility to protect them." VARIOUS OF PRO-GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS ON STREET HOLDING PLACARDS AND CHANTING, SECURITY PERSONNEL WATCHING VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE LAGOS, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS WITH BANNER READING: ''FREEDOM RALLY, BUHARI OBEY COURT ORDERS'' PROTESTERS LIFTING BARRICADE TO MARCH INTO AN ESTATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER, OLAJESU OLAMILEKAN, SAYING: "We are here to free ourselves, we are here to free ourselves and nobody can seize us.'' PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS SIGN READING (English): ''STOP THE CRACKDOWN ON THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH'' SIGN READING (English): ''HUMAN RIGHTS FOR NIGERIA'' BERET READING (English): ''#REVOLUTION NOW'' (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTIVIST, OLANREWAJU SURAJU, SAYING: ''This is just a warning shot to the federal government of Nigeria under president Muhammadu Buhari, on the expiration of our 14-day ultimatum on the need for the political detainees to be released unconditionally based on the order of the court and failure to do as we have demanded. Out of our four demands, one of them has been met with the judicial inquiry that has been set up but we are saying beyond we have all the political detainees to be released with immediate effect." SIGN READING (English): ''HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION'' PROTESTERS ARRIVING TO THE OFFICE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
  • Embargoed: 6th January 2020 13:30
  • Keywords: Abuja National Human Rights Commission Nigeria illegally detained protests
  • Location: ABUJA AND LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • City: ABUJA AND LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001BB75553
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A group of around 60 men carrying pro-government placards attacked civil society groups who were rallying to demand the release of those "illegally detained" by the state in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Monday (December 23).
    The attackers descended on the group of around 40 protesters in front of the government's National Human Rights Commission, sending them running for safety.
    The protesters were planning to deliver a list of demands to the Commission, which included the release of prisoners including Sahara Reporters founder Omoyele Sowore and a "halt to politically motivated persecution".
    The attackers targeted the leader of the group, Deji Adeyanju, and chased him for more than 200 meters before beating him. Police observing the protest did not immediately intervene when the attack began, according to a Reuters witness.
    A protest of around 200 people in Lagos organised by the same civil rights groups was peaceful.
    (Production: Angela Ukomadu, Seun Sanni, Greg Ternulum, Marissa Davison)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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