By Nnadozie Odom
Human rights protection group, Advocacy for People’s Rights (APR), are set to honour a frontline human rights activist, Augustine Areh and other rights defenders across Nigeria for their unwavering commitment to defending the rights of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the oppressed and vulnerable Nigerians in recent times.
The president of the group, Mazi Uchenna Maduka, made this known to newsmen, Thursday 19 April, 2024, saying the award would be bestowed on Augustine Areh and others at an event scheduled to mark the groups’ 15th year anniversary.
Continuing, Maduka said, “The diligent commitment of Mr. Augustine Areh towards protecting the inalienable rights of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and persistent call on the Nigerian government to respect the fundamental rights of indigenous people is a rare show of courage worthy of commendation and recognition with a befitting award.”
Speaking further, Comrade Maduka recalled the lasting legacy Areh has etched on the sands of history, saying that, “Areh’s continuous admonition of the Nigerian security personnel over the killing of peaceful members of IPOB who were simply protesting in Aba, over the continued detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, despite the court order for his release, has unprecedentedly elevated the voice of concerned Nigerians against extrajudicial killings in the country.”
He said, “It’s an honour for us to recognize Augustine Areh, a man of impeccable disposition and staunch advocate for rule of law.”
He continued, “Areh and other brave human rights defenders in Nigeria will be honoured on the day of our 15th year anniversary, scheduled to hold on 15th May, 2024.
“It’s an epoch occasion that will attract human rights advocates from around Nigeria including organisations that promote citizens’ rights irrespective of class, religious affiliation, ethnicity and race.”
Also speaking, the legal officer of the group who doubles as the group’s image maker, Barr. Osuji Anthony, called on the Nigerian government to respect the rights of individuals to freedom of opinion rather that crude suppression of vibrant voices of Nigerians that frown at government’s high-handedness ignominiously perpetrated by military and police personnel.
He said, “The crackdown on persons who speak against government’s antagonistic and anti-people policies in recent times only portray the government of Nigeria as being tyrannical, a sad commentary in the country’s democracy.”
He added, “Not minding the threats that had been made on Augustine Areh overtime by faceless persons, we will not be deterred and distracted from going ahead with our scheduled awards to Augustine Areh and other human rights advocates.”
