Tinubu administration increasing human rights abuse – Atiku
Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Tinubu administration, accusing it of exacerbating human rights abuses. He contends that President Tinubu has contradicted his earlier claims of being a defender of freedom by permitting the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and the military to infringe upon citizens’ rights without any form of accountability.
The former Vice President also asserted that Tinubu’s officials have misused the Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2015 to unjustly detain individuals. He noted that the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has effectively become a substitute for the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), continuing similar practices of repression.
Atiku pointed out that the troubling trend of enforced disappearances has become a national disgrace for a nation that prides itself on democratic values. He highlighted the case of Daniel Ojukwu from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, who disappeared on May 1, 2024, and was initially believed to have been abducted by kidnappers. It was later revealed that Ojukwu was in police custody under orders from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following his exposure of corruption involving a current government official in Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku further noted an incident on July 23, when the DSS arrested Aliyu Sanusi in Sokoto for distributing materials related to the #EndBadGovernanceProtest. He also mentioned the arrest and subsequent release of Adejuwon Soyinka, the former BBC Pidgin Editor and current West Africa Regional Editor for The Conversation, as evidence of a broader pattern of intimidating journalists who criticize the government.
Currently, Atiku pointed out that the police have detained Bristol Tamunobiefiri, the owner of the PIDOM Nigeria blog on X (formerly Twitter). Despite being held for over two weeks, Tamunobiefiri was granted administrative bail, which is difficult to fulfill. Atiku emphasized that this situation is unlawful, citing the Appeal Court ruling in the case of EFCC v. Emem Uboh (2022) LPEIR – 57968 (CA), which declared administrative bail illegal. He called for Tamunobiefiri to either be formally charged in court or released immediately.
