A THREAD: We astarted working on Nigeria in 1967 & issued our first report in 1968. All through these years; through dark days of military rule in 1990’s we remained resolute that; Nigerians must live with dignity. No one can violate rights of #Nigerians and go away with it.
Sometimes we get harsh responses; authorities often unleash blanket dismissal of our reports, without counter facts or figures. Like in other countries we are always have uneasy relationship with violators of human rights and their supporters.
During the days of Gen. Yakubu Gowon we raised our voice on atrocities committed during civil war. Betweern 1969-1970 we wrote Gen. Gowon concerning arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment and even killing of former Biafrans in former Biafran areas, particularly in the Port Harcourt.
1975-1976: We raised our voice over reports that the detention without trial of suspected critics of the govt. of General Yakubu Gowon continued, until 29 July 1975, when the government was overthrown in a bloodless coup.
1977: Amnesty International has no adopted prisoners in Nigeria and powers of detention do not appear to be used by the govt. to any significant degree. There is a large measure of press freedom in Nigeria and the judiciary retains a considerable degree of independence.
1978: Amnesty International took govt to account under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo lead govt. when a student riots, which began on 10 April 1978 over a large increase in student fees led to the deaths of about six students. A number of student leaders were unlawfully detained.
1980: During the rule of President Alhaji Shehu Shagari; we challenged his govt. after on 3 March 1980, 50 detainees held on vagrancy charges died of suffocation on a police van while they were being transported from to Ikoyi prison in Lagos.
1980: Following our report President Shehu Shagari ordered an official inquiry and five police officers and one investigating magistrate were taken into custody.
