LAWYER ARRESTED IN NIGERIA FOR CARRYING OUT PROFESSIONAL DUTIES

The Nigerian government has demonstrated its determination to round
up human rights activists, journalists and opposition politicians through
a recent series of arrests. A lawyer hired by the Nigerian
Environmental Rights Action (ERA) to secure the bail of one of its
staff, was arrested by men suspected to be members of the Nigerian
State Security Services. Bamidere Aturu was detained on 29 May
when he went to the Surulere police station to seek the release on bail of
an ERA activist, Isaac Osuoka, who was arrested on 26 May. Osuoka
was arrested solely because he was found in possession of materials
denouncing human rights abuses in the Niger Delta. Both detainees had
been transferred from the Surulere police station in Lagos to the
office of the Lagos State commissioner of police.

The Human Rights Watch condemned the arrests called for
the immediate and unconditional release of Aturu, Osuoka and other
Nigerian political prisoners.

ENDS