The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has accused the Federal Government of sliding toward authoritarianism. HURIWA alleges that security agencies are increasingly targeting and detaining civil rights activists to silence criticism.
In a statement released Wednesday, the group said the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Police, and other agencies are using state power to suppress dissenting opinions. It argued that this approach criminalizes legitimate criticism rather than addressing public concerns.
HURIWA pointed to the cases of Omoyele Sowore, Mark Chidiebere, and others as examples of what it calls direct attacks on constitutional freedoms. The association singled out Chidiebere’s reported arrest over comments about the feeding and welfare of troops fighting terrorists. 
The organization described Chidiebere as a “prisoner of conscience.” It noted that similar concerns about troop welfare have been raised publicly by both serving and retired military officers, suggesting the issue is widely recognized beyond activist circles.
Rather than tackling the welfare challenges faced by soldiers risking their lives daily, HURIWA contends that security agencies are prioritizing the pursuit of citizens who speak on uncomfortable topics. The group framed this as a misplacement of state resources and priorities.
To address the imbalance, HURIWA urged President Bola Tinubu to cut feeding and welfare allocations for the Presidency, the Vice President’s office, and other top officials by at least 50 percent. It recommended redirecting those funds to improve conditions for troops on the front lines, calling the current disparity between officials and soldiers “morally indefensible.”
The association also raised concerns about growing executive influence over public institutions, including the judiciary. It claimed this influence is contributing to a rise in politically motivated prosecutions across the country.
HURIWA called on the international community—including the UN, African Union, and EU—to closely monitor Nigeria’s democratic and human rights situation. It demanded the immediate release of detained activists, an end to harassment of dissenting voices, respect for constitutional freedoms, and independent investigations into alleged abuses.
“Democracy dies when citizens become afraid to speak,” HURIWA National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko stated.
