REVOLUTIONNOW: DSS rearrests Bakare, others, SERAP reacts

Department of State Services, DSS have rearrested Bakare, three others.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that after a year, the Convener of RevolutionNow in Osun State, Olawale Bakare, has been rearrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS in Osogbo.

Recall that on August 4, 2019, a human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner, former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore staged a protest in Lagos, Abuja, Osun, and other parts of the country which led to his arrest and detention.

Similarly, Bakare was also arrested in Osogbo and arraigned alongside Sowore.

Olawale, on Wednesday with members of the Revolution Now, converged at the popular Olaiya junction in Osogbo to state a protest against bad governance, lack of infrastructure, extra-judicial activities, among others.

The protesters had addressed the police officers at the scene on their mission.

A yet to be identified member of the RevolutionNow while addressing security agents and onlookers was abruptly arrested by DSS. Bakare and two others were also arrested, while others left the scene.

At the same time, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the use of excessive force against protesters and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights.

This was conveyed in a statement by the organization’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP. He stated: “By failing to adequately protect protesters from violent attacks, Nigerian authorities have blatantly violated their obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“Nobody should be arrested or subjected to torture and ill-treatment simply for taking part in peaceful protests. The authorities should stop criminalizing peaceful protesters.

“Rather than suppressing peaceful protests, the authorities ought to protect peaceful protesters and ensure a safe and enabling environment for people to exercise their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“SERAP urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested, promptly investigate attacks on protesters, and identify security agents suspected to be responsible and bring them to justice.”