Nigerian authorities must investigate violent attack on activist Lanre Suraj
We, the undersigned human rights and anti-corruption non-governmental organizations call on the Nigerian authorities to promptly, thoroughly, transparently and effectively investigate a serious physical assault on Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, a prominent anti-corruption activist, and his family members at their home in Lagos on Monday, 28th March 2022.
The suspected perpetrators must be promptly identified and brought to justice.According to reports, five unidentified armed men invaded the home of Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) and Co-Chair of the Anti-Corruption Thematic Working Group of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria (OGP Nigeria), at around 2:15am on Monday, 28th March 2022, breaching the Estate’s Security and cutting off the security features in his house.
The armed men assaulted Mr Suraju and his wife, both of whom were hospitalized. The assailants also reportedly took away some valuable items belonging to the family, including phones, bank cards, jewellery, and a car.
The HEDA Resource Centre advocates for transparency and accountability in the country.We are seriously concerned about the brutal attack on an outspoken critic of the government.
This vicious attack was apparently meant not just to intimidate Lanre and his family members but to seriously injure them – and perhaps even to kill them. The aim seems to be to stop his human rights and anti-corruption work.Those responsible for the attack must not enjoy impunity. Any failure to investigate the attack could send a dangerous message that would make other activists vulnerable to attack.
We urge the Nigerian authorities to get to the bottom of the attack and protect Lanre’s right to do his human rights and anti-corruption work. The government should urgently order a full, impartial and transparent investigation into the attack and prosecute those responsible.
We are concerned that Lanre might be in danger if the authorities fail to guarantee his safety. Nigeria has a responsibility to respect and protect the rights of human rights defenders, as contained in Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, as well as to provide effective remedies for any violations of these rights.
Human rights defenders and activists should be able to carry out their work without any fear of reprisals or violent repercussions.Nigerian authorities should seriously examine all possible motives behind the attack, including the possibility that Lanre was targeted for his legitimate human rights and anti-corruption work that includes a few high profile cases.
Nigerian authorities should make clear that they will not tolerate intimidation and violence against activists simply for doing their jobs. Authorities should ensure that everyone engaged in protecting and promoting human rights, transparency and accountability in Nigeria can do so in a safe and enabling environment.
Signed
Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda
‘Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria)
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC)
Biola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women and Documentation Research Centre (WARDC)