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Activists assaulted and illegally detained by Nigerian police
Amnesty International on Friday called on the Nigerian authorities to launch immediate investigations into the assault and detention of three human rights activists by police in the city of Port Harcourt.
Isaac Asume Osuoka, AkpoBari Celestine and Ken Henshaw from non-governmental organization Social Action, which campaigns for environmental justice and human rights in Nigeria, were stopped and detained by police on 5 April after leaving their office.
AkpoBari Celestine said he was repeatedly hit with the butt of a gun, poked with a barrel in his arms and legs and slapped in the face, as at least six armed men, including at least three uniformed police officers, forced the activists out of their car and into a white van without asking the victims for any form of identification.
The three men were not told why they were stopped and detained but were taken to Olu Obasanjo police station in Port Harcourt.
"They knew who we were," said Isaac Asume Osuoka.
"When we were stopped they didn't ask for our names, they didn't ask to see a driver's license, they didn't ask for any car documents."