Amnesty Int’l Condemns Public Flogging Of Delta Resident Over Criticism Of Abandoned Project
Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the public flogging of a Delta State resident, Godspower Okedi, describing the incident as a grave violation of human rights and an attack on freedom of expression.
The rights organisation said Okedi was allegedly assaulted in Emevor Community, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, after he publicly criticised an abandoned infrastructure project and demanded accountability from those in authority.
The community chairman, Lucky Okeremu, and members of his executive allegedly publicly humiliated Okedi over a Facebook post concerning an abandoned Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) road project.
Okeremu and members of the executive had invited Okedi to appear before the community leadership over the Facebook post.
According to Amnesty International, a video circulating on social media shows community members pinning Okedi to the ground before repeatedly flogging him with whips and pieces of wood while trampling on him.
It noted that Delta State is plagued by numerous abandoned projects, insisting that citizens have the constitutional right to question government spending and demand improved governance.
Condemning the incident, Amnesty International said, “This act of violence is a violation of human rights and a direct attack on freedom of expression. It also shows increasing tyranny at the states level, with governors enabling atrocities shamelessly.”
The organisation stressed that “Any person has right to complain about poor infrastructure, ask questions about public funds, and demand better governance without fear of physical violence, torture, intimidation or humiliation.”'
Amnesty further expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of human rights abuses in Delta State, alleging that local leaders and state-aligned figures were increasingly using intimidation and violence to silence critics and whistleblowers.
According to the organisation, "The trend of human rights atrocities in Delta State are disturbing, as local leaders and state-aligned figures are using abuse of power to shrink civic space and shut down critics and whistleblowers. When local authorities resort to violence to cover up failed or abandoned projects, they encourage corruption and undermine the rule of law."
The organisation called on Nigerian authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
It said, “Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to investigate this horrific attack on freedom of expression by minions of people in power.”
Reaffirming the constitutional protections available to Nigerians, Amnesty added that the country's constitution guarantees freedom of expression and protects citizens from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
It urged the authorities to act swiftly, saying, “The authorities must act swiftly to uphold these rights and prove that nobody, no matter their position, is above the law.”