In what underlines the alarming deterioration Nigeria\u2019s freedom of expression and assembly environment, security forces killed thirteen demonstrators and one journalist in a frenzy of repression that saw the country recording a 340% increase in freedom of expression (FOE) violations in the third quarter of 2019.<\/p>\n
From five violations in the second quarter (January-March), Nigeria recorded 22 in July-September, 2019, including the killing of twelve protesters and one journalist. The violations recorded in Nigeria represents 59% of the total violations recorded in West Africa by MFWA during the quarter.<\/p>\n
In all, 37 violations were recorded in nine countries. Security agents carried out 26 violations, representing 70% of the total.<\/p>\n
Impunity had a field day as only one violation received some form of redress. The sole redress related to the arrest and detention of a journalist by members an environment task force set up by the Akwa Ibom State. Mary Ekere of The Post<\/i>\u00a0newspaper spent two days in detention after she was arrested on September 16 for taking pictures of the taskforce\u2019s raid on a shop. The State Governor intervened to get her released and subsequently suspended the members of the taskforce.<\/p>\n
In some positive developments, Cabinet in Sierra Leone approved a Bill to decriminalise libel in the country. In The Gambia, efforts to unravel the murder of Deyda Hydara received a major boost when\u00a0a member of the hit-squad of former President Yahya Jammeh confirmed on July 22, that the murder of the former Editor of\u00a0The Point<\/em>\u00a0newspaper was carried out on the orders of the exiled ex-President.<\/p>\n