THE CENTRE for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Saturday condemned ‘in strongest terms’ the raid and siege by security personnel on the offices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).
National Record reported Friday how armed security personnel invaded the Paschal Bafyau Labour House headquarters of the NLC, raided the Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of the 11-storey edifice, carting away all books from the shelves, alleging that they were materials used to indoctrinate young Nigerians to rebel against government.
In a similar manner, heavily armed security personnel besieged the Ikeja, Lagos headquarters of CDHR as the human rights organisation was scheduled to hold a symposium in honour of those killed during the about-to-end 10-day nationwide hunger protest.
CITAD, in a statement on Saturday, signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z Ya’u, says the “unwarranted actions” by the security operatives “are not only an assault on NLC and CDHR but also an attack on the principles of democracy, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.”
The NLC and CDHR, CITAD further states, “have long been advocates for the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and association, and their recent criticisms of the security agencies using force against the peaceful protesters in the country during the #EndBadGovernance protest were entirely within their rights as defenders of democracy.”
Ya’u also stated: “The invasion of these organizations is a clear violation of their rights to operate freely and without fear. This invasion is a threat to all civil society organizations, activists, and citizens who speak against injustice meted on Nigerians by the Nigerian government and its security agencies.
“As one of the civil society organization fighting for the rights of the citizens to exercise their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the chapter four of the 1999 constitution as amended, we once again condemn this violation of people’s rights to assemble and express themselves freely and call on the presidency to call these agencies to order, and to immediately cease these oppressive tactics and to respect the rule of law.
“Finally, we stand in solidarity with the NLC, CDHR, and all other organizations and individuals who are working to ensure that Nigeria remains a nation where justice, freedom, and the rule of law prevail.”
