By Henry Uche
Following the recent invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has strongly condemned the unwarranted act of intimidation against the civil society organization by the security operatives.
In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society group maintained that the attack represents a disturbing threat to the democratic principles and freedoms that form the bedrock of Nigeria.
He said, “We firmly stand in solidarity with SERAP and call on President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct the DSS to halt all forms of harassment, intimidation, and attacks on SERAP or any other civil society group. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are vital stakeholders in nation-building, playing an essential role in ensuring accountability, protecting human rights, and upholding democratic values. Any form of threat, harassment, or suppression of their activities is an assault on these values and an affront to the rule of law.
“As civil society groups, we exist to serve the public good, and our work must be protected, not threatened. The recent attack on SERAP undermines the collective efforts of CSOs to foster a transparent and accountable governance system in Nigeria. We urge the Nigerian government to immediately investigate the officers responsible for this invasion and ensure that those involved are held accountable for their actions,” Suraju maintained.
HEDA Resource Centre believes that a vibrant civic space is essential for democracy to thrive. It is therefore the duty of the government to protect and support civil society organizations as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a party.
“We will continue to collaborate with like-minded organizations to challenge any attempt to shrink civic space or curtail the fundamental rights of Nigerians. We urge President Tinubu and relevant authorities to ensure that the rights and safety of civil society groups are upheld so they can continue to operate freely in the interest of our nation.”
