By Richard O Davis
Research has revealed how those who stood against injustice speak about the happenings either by way of protest or public speaking end up becoming victims, the recent arrest and intimidation of human activism is becoming alarming in Nigeria.
Nigerian politics is designed to suppress the truth, good governance, constitutional rights of citizens and encourage corruption, religious nepotism in a country as complex as Nigeria.
It is no longer news the spate of politically motivated assaults, illegal arrest, persecution and killings of Human rights activists perceived to be threats – whether real or imaginary is on the rise in Nigeria.
This is not just a stereotype passed down from the early days of Kudirat Abiola, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi et al to the present days of Femi Falana, Oby Ezekwesili, Deji Adeyanju, Aisha Yesufu, Rinu Oduala, Dj switch amongst others.
The unpopular ones like David Best, Omatshola Amuka-Pemu and others have silently suffered untold persecution for daring to protect minority youths and persecuted Christian communities in their quest for a better society filled with hope.
Investigation reveals that a respectable number of these human rights activists especially the unpopular ones endure the brunt of these targeted persecution from government and their cronies.
For instance, the likes of Omatshola Amuka-Pemu, a legal practitioner and a defender of Christian minority and youths rights have been off radar for a while now.
Omatshola’s activism started around 2015, where he championed the survival of the minority Christian population that had been targeted by terrorist disguising as Fulani herders that have been operating around the Kafanchan axis of Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State Nigeria, where he was working at the time.
He collaborated with other secret human rights groups which exposed him to this Islamic terrorist and resulted in an assassination attempt and eventually led to him being a fugitive and had to run for his life.
His activities were mainly to create awareness about the secret systematic ethnic cleansing of the predominantly Christian minority natives in these affected areas around the North Central region, only to find himself becoming a target for eradication by these militia groups.
These militias are suspected to have religious links with government particularly the immediate past government.
These suspicions stem from not only the relationships these militia have with members of government, but the kind of assault weapons publicly wielded by these groups while conducting their dastardly acts.
Sources close to him also revealed that he became a target for elimination by these terrorists in favour of their employers who are faceless.
Further information reaching us was that after the failed assassination attempt on his life, he moved down to southern Nigeria secured a job with another telecommunications firm, as he continued his youth engagement for responsible leadership and effective participation in governance.
He also continued making known the plights of the minority Christians in the Northern region of the country.
Sources also revealed that he complained of strange movements around his workplace by unknown individuals of Northern decent, leading to his relocation to Lagos.
In Lagos, he actively took part in youth activities, a testament of his zeal to see a vibrant youth force.
Little wonder he was amongst the persons accused of fanning the October 2020, #EndSars protest, which led to him being declared wanted by these groups using their government links.
This move to arrest them was also true for other activists like Ronu, Deji, Dj Switch, and a host of others.
Recently, we had the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest which though well intentioned was not well coordinated, and was subsequently hijacked by sponsored anarchists, resulting in violence and looting.
People oriented activists like Omatshola, Quadri, Gideon and others have gone into hiding, while some are still missing.
Some are suspected to have safely moved to other countries for fear of arrest/elimination by government or their sympathisers (hired terrorists) who perceive the actions of these activists to be inimical to their grand plan of human rights suppression, land grabbing through ethnic cleansing among other heinous crimes.
In this 21st century, and with the advancement of democratic outlook in nations across the world, the suppression of human right activism is viewed as anti-people and repressive towards the people’s right to freedom of expression, association and life, as long as these activities does not disrupt law and order within the society.
However, these rights have been grossly abused with the incessant targeting of perceived Human rights activists (termed enemies of the state), for elimination or incarceration in government detentions with frivolous accusations.
Finally, the big question would be: when would the persecution of Activist end?
Like we would ask “Where are the missing activists? Where is Barrister Omatshola Amuka-Pemu, Quadri Azeez, Gideon Ikwujomah?”
Hopefully these questions would be answered someday for the sake of posterity.
Richard O Davis, is an investigative journalist.
