The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) has called on the Nigerian government to review and repeal provisions of cybercrime, defamation, and insult laws that conflict with regional and international standards on freedom of expression and media freedom. The Commission also urged an end to arbitrary arrests and intimidation of journalists, bloggers, and civic actors.
Inter-Session Activity Report Presented in Banjul
In its Inter-Session Activity Report, covering October 2025 to May 2026, presented at the 87th Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia, the Commission’s Working Group on Extractive Industries, Environment and Human Rights Violations noted a concerning trend in Nigeria. The report highlighted protracted insecurity, violations involving mass atrocities by state and non-state actors, and significant threats to fundamental freedoms.
Concerns Over Security and Civilian Safety
Presenting the report, the Group’s Chairperson, Dr. Solomon Ayele Dersso, expressed deep concern about the worsening security situation in Nigeria. He cited persistent killings, targeting of civilians, and violence by armed groups, bandits, and militias. Communities face mass killings, abductions, and indiscriminate attacks, including on schools and school children. Dersso also noted reports of civilians caught in military airstrikes, including deadly incidents at markets and populated areas, raising serious concerns about civilian protection and accountability in security operations.
Arrests of Journalists Under Cybercrime Laws
Dersso highlighted the arrest of journalists for alleged violations of cybercrime laws, including defamation for exposing political crises. He stated that such acts threaten civic freedom and endanger the right to freedom from arbitrary deprivation of liberty and the right to due process. He called on the government to urgently adopt a comprehensive, human rights-based national security strategy to address terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings.
