AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S THREATS AGAINST CRITICS

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the Federal Government’s alleged threats and intimidation against individuals and groups who criticize the current administration. In a statement, the organization emphasized that holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime, and that the Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats.

The human rights watchdog specifically denounced the reported threats from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials against Ushie Uguamaye, a Lagos-based corps member who criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government over the hardship Nigerians face due to economic reforms.

“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should prioritize addressing the country’s economic woes,” Amnesty International stated.

Uguamaye had expressed her frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions in a viral TikTok video, which led to alleged threats from NYSC officials, pressuring her to delete the content. She feared for her safety, stating that her personal details had been leaked and that she was being pressured to report to the NYSC office.

Amnesty International emphasized that millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty, and that the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures. “Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights,” the organization stated.