Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Thursday, has told the Department of State Services, DSS, to stop harassing activists who put the government of President Muhammadu Buhari on its toes through critical, objective and active perusal.
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, made this known in a statement to DAILY POST on Thursday while reacting to the arrest and release of the Executive Director of the International Press Institute based in Lagos and former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Lanre Arogundade.
The activist was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by DSS officials on his return from Banjul, The Gambia, where he attended a training programme on ‘Conflict reporting for Journalists.’
The rights group noted that up till this moment no reason has been given for the arrest and detention of the activist.
HURIWA said that even though the activist has been released by the security operatives, it was important to note that the DSS has allegedly turned itself into an attack bulldog of the current administration.
Quoting from sections of the constitution, the rights advocacy group said the DSS should know that their actions will not stop civil society groups in the country from putting the President on his toes.
The rights group said the Buhari government must also realise that Nigeria is under a democracy and there is no room for jackboots and dictator-like tendencies, no matter how subtle it is.
“The SSS must publicly apologise to Mr Arogundade for trampling on his fundamental human rights. The secret police must do this and publicise it in national dailies with immediate effect. Nigeria is no Banana Republic,” the group said.
