Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu over ongoing human rights abuses and is calling for the immediate release of whistleblower Bristol Tamunobiefiri, the owner of the PIDOM Nigeria blog on X (formerly Twitter).
In a statement released on Sunday, Atiku, through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, accused Tinubu of betraying his promises of freedom by allowing the Department of State Services (DSS), police, and military to violate citizens’ rights without accountability.
Tamunobiefiri, known for publishing exclusive information on his blog, was detained several weeks ago. Although the police have announced plans to charge him in court soon, Atiku condemned the administration’s approach to detaining citizens. He likened the government’s actions to those of a gestapo, with citizens being arrested without their families’ knowledge and left searching for weeks.
Atiku highlighted that journalists have been disproportionately affected under Tinubu’s leadership, with their only offense being the reporting of news and exposing government misconduct. He argued that the CyberCrime Prevention Act of 2015 has become a tool for detaining citizens, with the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) resembling the defunct SARS in its approach.
“The rise in enforced disappearances is a national disgrace for a country that prides itself on democracy,” Atiku stated. He recalled several cases of government critics and journalists being detained or intimidated, including:
- Daniel Ojukwu from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, who went missing on May 1, 2024, and was later found in police custody after exposing government corruption.
- Aliyu Sanusi, arrested by the DSS on July 23 in Sokoto for distributing protest materials.
- Adejuwon Soyinka, former BBC Pidgin Editor, and now West Africa Regional Editor of the Conversation, who was detained and released as part of an apparent pattern of press intimidation.
Atiku criticized the current detention of Tamunobiefiri, who has been held for over two weeks and faces a difficult bail process. He emphasized that, according to an Appeal Court ruling, administrative bail is illegal and called for Tamunobiefiri’s immediate arraignment or release.
He also warned Tinubu that continued human rights abuses could lead to sanctions from Western nations, potentially hindering Nigeria’s ability to address its security challenges. Amnesty International has a pending petition with the US Congress regarding arms sales to Nigeria due to these concerns.
Atiku urged Tinubu to address these human rights violations seriously to prevent further international repercussions and to maintain Nigeria’s capability to combat insecurity effectively.
