Rights Groups, Police, Justice Officials Demand Stronger Accountability as Civic Space Shrinks in Southeast

By Praise Chinecherem

Civil society organisations, justice sector representatives and security oversight institutions have called for stronger accountability mechanisms and improved access to justice as concerns mount over restrictions on civic freedoms in Southeast Nigeria.

The call was made in Owerri, Imo State, during a one-day closed-door Accountability Dialogue on Civic Space, organised by a consortium comprising the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Virgin Heart Foundation (VHF) and Vivacious Development Initiative (VIDI), with support from the Fund for Global Human Rights through the Action Group on Free Civic Space.

The dialogue was part of a 12-month project titled “From Silencing to Accountability: Challenging the Securitisation of Civic Space in Southeast Nigeria,” covering Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

The initiative seeks to strengthen accountability, improve access to justice and promote a safer and more inclusive civic space across the region.

In her opening address, Executive Director of Virgin Heart Foundation, Peace Dike, said civic space should not be viewed as an exclusive preserve of civil society organisations, stressing that it also encompasses the ability of ordinary citizens to express their views, organise peacefully and engage public institutions on issues affecting their communities.

Dike noted that although Nigeria has laws guaranteeing fundamental rights, concerns persist over the arrest and detention of journalists and civic actors, restrictions on peaceful assemblies, intimidation and difficulties in securing timely remedies when rights are allegedly violated.

She, however, emphasised that the dialogue was not aimed at undermining security institutions or their constitutional responsibilities.

“Security institutions have a legitimate responsibility to protect lives and property and to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality. But security operations must be carried out within the framework of the law and with respect for citizens’ fundamental rights,” she said.

Dike called for practical measures, including stronger complaint and referral mechanisms, improved access to legal assistance, responsible documentation of alleged violations and continuous capacity building for security personnel, journalists, lawyers and civic actors.

Also speaking, Executive Director of Vivacious Development Initiative, Onyinyechi Joy Nwosu, said the project was designed to examine the consequences of treating legitimate civic activities primarily through a security lens.

According to Nwosu, the dialogue provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify accountability gaps at various stages, from arrest and detention to judicial proceedings and access to remedies.

She urged participants to move beyond discussions and develop concrete commitments that could produce measurable improvements in the protection of civic freedoms.

Providing the broader context for the dialogue, RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, acknowledged the serious security challenges confronting the Southeast, including killings, kidnappings, attacks on security personnel and organised violence.

He stressed that the state has a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property but argued that legitimate civic activities should not automatically be classified as security threats.

“Journalism, peaceful protest, human rights advocacy, community organising and public criticism are ordinary features of constitutional democracy. They should not automatically be treated as security threats,” Nwanguma said.

He explained that the project builds on RULAAC’s previous interventions documenting the experiences of journalists and activists, while expanding its focus to accountability across the entire institutional chain, including arrest, detention, prosecution, remand, bail and judicial oversight.

“The dialogue was intended to move discussions beyond identifying alleged violations towards examining which institutions bear responsibility, what evidence justified official actions, where oversight may have failed and what remedies or consequences should follow where wrongdoing is established,” he said.

In a goodwill message, the Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the police, as an agency of government, is governed by the law and that its personnel are expected to operate within the bounds of those laws.

While acknowledging that there may be misconduct by some officers, she said such cases should be addressed through established reporting and accountability channels.

Chinaka urged citizens to familiarise themselves with the available mechanisms for reporting alleged infractions and to understand the constitutional provisions protecting their rights.

She also disclosed that the Abia State Police Command had introduced several reforms in line with directives from the Inspector General of Police aimed at improving police-community relations.

According to her, ongoing public awareness initiatives are also being implemented to educate residents about their rights and available channels for seeking redress.

Representing the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Imo State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Gloria Egwuagu, Barrister Ikenna Obi said civil society organisations have an important role to play in ensuring that justice systems function effectively.

He called for greater collaboration among security agencies, justice institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, stressing the need to avoid working in isolation.

For human rights activist, Barrister Chinedu Agu, the Southeast “can no longer continue in the trajectory of rights suppression and shrinking civic space.”

Agu commended the organisers for convening stakeholders from different sectors to address the challenges confronting civic freedoms and institutional accountability in the region.

Participants at the dialogue included representatives of the Police Service Commission, Police Complaint Response Unit, National Human Rights Commission, justice institutions, lawyers, media practitioners, civil society organisations and community groups.

The participants examined practical strategies for strengthening institutional accountability while recognising the legitimate responsibilities of security agencies in addressing insecurity across the Southeast.

The organisers said the outcome of the engagement would contribute to efforts aimed at building stronger accountability systems, improving access to justice and protecting legitimate civic participation across the region.

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