By Richard O Davis, an investigative journalist
Research has revealed how those who stand against injustice, either by way of protest or public speaking, often end up becoming victims. The recent arrest and intimidation of human rights activists in Nigeria is becoming alarming. Nigerian politics is designed to suppress the truth, good governance, the Constitutional rights of Nigerians, and encourage corruption and religious nepotism in a country as complex as Nigeria.
It is no longer news that the spate of politically motivated assaults, illegal arrests, persecution, and killings of human rights activists perceived to be threats—whether real or imagined—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 lesser-known figures, 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.
Investigations reveal that a significant number of these human rights activists, especially the lesser-known ones, endure the brunt of targeted persecution from the government and their cronies. For instance, Omatshola Amuka-Pemu, a legal practitioner and defender of Christian minority and youth rights, has been off the radar for a while now. Omatshola’s activism began around 2015, where he championed the survival of the minority Christian population targeted by terrorists disguised as Fulani herders operating around the Kafanchan axis of Southern Kaduna, Nigeria, where he was working at the time. He collaborated with other secret human rights groups, which exposed him to these Islamic terrorists, leading to an assassination attempt and forcing him to become a fugitive. He had to run for his life.
His activities were mainly focused on creating awareness about the secret systematic ethnic cleansing of the predominantly Christian minority natives in these affected areas around the North Central region. This, unfortunately, made him a target for eradication by these militia groups, suspected to have religious links with the government, particularly the state government at the time. These suspicions stem not only from the relationships these militias have with members of the government, but from the assault weapons publicly wielded by these groups while conducting their heinous acts. Sources close to him also revealed that he became a target for elimination by these terrorists in favor of their faceless employers.
Further information reaching us indicates that after the failed assassination attempt, he relocated to southern Nigeria, secured a job with another telecommunications firm, and continued his youth engagement for responsible leadership and effective participation in governance. He also continued to highlight the plights of the minority Christians in the Northern region. Sources further revealed that Omatshola complained about strange movements around his workplace by unknown individuals of Northern descent, prompting him to relocate once again to Lagos.
In Lagos, he actively participated in youth activities, a testament to his zeal to see a vibrant youth force. It is no surprise that he was among the persons accused of fanning the flames of the October 2020 EndSARS protest, which led to him being declared wanted by these groups using their government connections. This move to arrest activists was also true for others like Ronu, Deji, DJ Switch, and a host of others.
Recently, during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest, which, though well-intentioned, was not well coordinated and subsequently hijacked by sponsored anarchists, violence and looting ensued. People-oriented activists like Omatshola, Quadri, Gideon, and others have gone into hiding, with some still missing. Some are suspected to have fled the country for fear of arrest or elimination by the government or its sympathizers (hired terrorists), who perceive the actions of these activists as threats to their grand plan of human rights suppression, land grabbing through ethnic cleansing, among other heinous crimes.
In the 21st century, with the advancement of democratic outlooks across the world, the suppression of human rights activism is seen as anti-people and repressive toward citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, association, and life, as long as these activities do 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 remains: when will the persecution of activists end? As many ask, “WHERE ARE THE MISSING ACTIVISTS? WHERE IS BARR. OMATSHOLA AMUKA-PEMU, QUADRI AZEEZ, GIDEON IKWUJOMAH?” We hope these questions will be answered someday, for the sake of future generations.
