Nigeria: Urgent Action - Support MOSOP!

 

We call on you with an urgent request to support the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), in Nigeria, a fellow Member of ESCR-Net. In the past week, armed gunmen invaded the home of Bariara Kpalap, the Information Officer of MOSOP, and there have been threats against the lives of Ledum Mitee, President of MOSOP, and Legborsi Pyagbara, International Advocacy Officer. Based on the assessment of MOSOP, these incidents seem to be part of a larger campaign to silence the voice of MOSOP, as a key representative of the Ogoni people.

We have sent a letter of support on behalf of ESCR-Net, calling on the government to protect the lives and respect the human rights of members of MOSOP. Due to the urgency and seriousness of this situation, we would ask you to consider sending a separate letter from your own organization. You are welcome to use and revise the text from the ESCR-Net letter below in English, Spanish, and French; the appropriate addresses are also included at the end of the ESCR-Net letter.  If you decide to send a letter, we would be eager to receive a copy and to post it on our website, as well as forwarding it to MOSOP.

Finally, below you will find two press releases and a timeline of events from MOSOP, which should provide helpful background information. If you have further questions or if you would like to be in direct contact with MOSOP, we encourage you to write to Bariara Kpalap, the Information Officer of MOSOP, at bariarakpalap@mosop.net.

Thank you for urgently considering and ideally supporting this solidarity action.

See the complete letter here.