Human Rights

AI Accuses Nigerian Military of Detaining, Abusing Boko Haram Escapees
Armed Forces, Child Abuse, Human Rights, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

AI Accuses Nigerian Military of Detaining, Abusing Boko Haram Escapees

Amnesty International has reported that dozens of women and young girls who escaped captivity by Boko Haram extremists have faced unlawful detention and abuse within Nigerian military facilities. The report, released on Monday, highlights ongoing human rights violations in the country’s northeast. The Amnesty International report is based on 126 interviews, mostly with survivors, conducted over the 14 years since Boko Haram launched its insurgency. It documents the harrowing experiences of women and girls who were detained, often along with their children, for extended periods due to their real or perceived associations with the extremist group. The report echoes longstanding concerns about the Nigerian military's human rights record, which has faced accusations of extrajudicial kil...
Minister Makes U-Turn, Offers Gifts to 100 Orphaned Girls Ahead of their Mass Wedding
Human Rights, News, Nigeria, Religion, Women Empowerment

Minister Makes U-Turn, Offers Gifts to 100 Orphaned Girls Ahead of their Mass Wedding

In a move that has surprised many, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, appears to have withdrawn her disapproval for the proposed mass wedding of 100 orphaned girls in Niger state. The Minister announced scholarships and provided various gift items to 100 orphaned girls in Niger State on Thursday. This initiative comes ahead of their mass wedding scheduled for Friday, sponsored by Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly. The minister, who initially opposed the mass wedding, citing violations of the Child Rights Act, addressed a press conference in Abuja, where she revealed her efforts to halt the wedding. "I have petitioned the Inspector General of Police and filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop the wedding," Kennedy-Ohanenye stated. ...
Monaco Midfielder Faces Sanctions for not Supporting LGBTQ
Human Rights, News, Religion, Senegal, Sports

Monaco Midfielder Faces Sanctions for not Supporting LGBTQ

France's Sports Minister Calls for Action Against Mohamed Camara France's Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has called for sanctions against Monaco's midfielder Mohamed Camara. The call came after Camara covered a message supporting LGBTQ on his jersey during the team's final league match on Sunday. During the French championship's annual campaign against discrimination, each team wore a badge with the word "homophobia" crossed out. This campaign, held during the weekend's final phase, aims to promote inclusivity and condemn discrimination. Camara, however, chose to cover the badge and also boycotted the pre-match group photo where players stood in front of a banner bearing the same message. His actions took place during Monaco's 4–0 victory over Nantes. Describing Camara...
Minister Declares Press Freedom, while Journalist Arrests Mount
Human Rights, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria

Minister Declares Press Freedom, while Journalist Arrests Mount

Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, celebrated government's commitment to press freedom despite evidence to the contrary. Making this bold proclamation during a press briefing held on Friday, the Minister stated that since Bola Tinubu assumed office as President on May 29, 2023, no journalist has been detained in Nigeria. The occasion for this declaration was a press briefing jointly organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to mark the 2024 World Press Freedom Day. Idris further claimed that Tinubu’s administration had fostered the most conducive environment for journalists, off...
NLC: Government Response Will Determine Duration of Protest
Cost of Living, Economy, Human Rights, Labour, News, Nigeria

NLC: Government Response Will Determine Duration of Protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has made it clear that the duration of the ongoing protest will be determined by the response of the government to their demands, and not by the use of force. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this disclosure during an interview with Channels TV at Unity Fountain in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday. The NLC launched its protest on Wednesday morning in various states of the federation, including the FCT, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo, among others, against what they deem as "anti-people" policies. Ajaero emphasized that the NLC will decide whether the protest continues for today, tomorrow, or longer, based on the response received from the government. He stressed that it is not in the interest of the...
BREAKING NEWS: NLC Confirms Nationwide Mass Protest to Proceed Tomorrow
Cost of Living, Human Rights, Labour, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

BREAKING NEWS: NLC Confirms Nationwide Mass Protest to Proceed Tomorrow

In a recent statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that the nationwide mass protest, scheduled for tomorrow, August 2, 2023, will proceed as planned. This comes after a meeting with the federal government where the NLC sought to address the demands of the Nigerian workers and people. NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, reaffirmed that the outcome of the meeting with the government had not altered the course set by the NLC as the custodians of the interests and desires of the Nigerian workers and people. Ajaero urged all Nigerians to disregard any efforts by "fifth columnists" who are working against the wishes of the people. Instead, he called on everyone to gather in their respective states and locations across the nation to give vent to this collective resolve. ...
News of Mass Burial of #EndSARS Casualties, Misleading – LASG
Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria

News of Mass Burial of #EndSARS Casualties, Misleading – LASG

The Lagos State government has dismissed rumors of a purported mass burial plan for casualties of the 2020 #EndSARS incident, labeling it as the work of mischief makers seeking to mislead the public. Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, addressed the issue in a statement, urging the public to disregard the false reports circulating on social media. The statement clarified that the misinterpretation and sensationalization of a letter from the Lagos State Government Public Procurement Agency led to the misinformation. The letter in question, entitled "Letter of No Objection: Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 #EndSARS victims," was taken out of context to create confusion and disaffection against the Lagos State Government. The #EndSARS protests,...
<strong>Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi</strong>
Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria, Security

Court Declares Ebube Agu Operations Illegal In Ebonyi

An Ebonyi State federal high court in Abakaliki has declared the activities of the south-east security outfit, Ebube Agu, illegal in the state. Recall that the south-east states governors had in April 2021, announced the establishment of the security network as part of measures to curb insecurity in the region. The court while ruling on Tuesday, ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, and police to retrieve all the weapons in the possession of Ebube Agu operatives in the state. The presiding judge, Riman Fatun, said the grounds for disbandment were connected to human right abuses, extortion, and illegal arrests. The judge held, “I hereby declare the Ebube Agu outfit illegal and therefore, it ceases to exist as the Ebonyi state house of assembly has no powers to appr...
<strong>Man Sodomises 12 Almajiri Children In Gombe</strong>
Crime, Human Rights, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria

Man Sodomises 12 Almajiri Children In Gombe

The men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Gombe State Command, have arrested a 40-year-old man, Usman Mohammed, for luring about 12 children aged between five to 10 years old. Mohammed, a resident of Liji in Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area of the state, allegedly specialized in having carnal knowledge of minors. According to Mohammed, who spoke when he was paraded at the NSCDC state headquarters on Tuesday, he was introduced to same-sex intercourse by his Islamic teacher when he was aged 18 years as an Almajiri student in Kano. The father of three expressed regret over his actions while asking for forgiveness from appropriate authorities. He said, “I learnt homosexuality from my almajiri scholar around Brigade at the age of 18 years in Kano State. I am re...
<strong>Bolanle Raheem: How My Wife Battled For Survival As Hospitals Refused Treatment – Husband</strong>
Crime, Human Rights, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

Bolanle Raheem: How My Wife Battled For Survival As Hospitals Refused Treatment – Husband

Gbenga, the husband of slain Lagos lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Thursday, at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, recounted how his wife struggled to survive as three hospitals refused to attend to her. The late lawyer was shot to death on Christmas Day by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi. The husband also told the court she received the Toyota Venza in which she was shot as a gift on Friday, December 23, 2022, two days before her death. The car was gift from a property developer she worked for as reward for meeting her target. Bolanle’s husband who was led in evidence-in-chief by the Attorney General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said that they got married 10 years ago and on Christmas Day,...