Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has condemned the latest assault on activist Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Mr Sowore on Thursday attended the emergency trial of separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and was pelted with stones by thugs allegedly sponsored by SSS.

Describing the assault as a “coordinated attempt by unscrupulous individuals to silence all activists in Nigeria,” HEDA called on the SSS and the police to investigate all forms of attacks against activists.

“I was at the Federal High Court in Abuja today to cover, observe and witness the trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu before Justice Binta Nyanko.

“Soon as court proceedings ended, I left the court room and tried going to my next assignment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

“As soon as I reached the gate of the Federal High Court, I was alerted to the large presence of thugs and hoodlums carrying dangerous weapons. I had been briefed that these persons were mobilised by Nigeria’s secret police known as the DSS,” Mr Sowore said.

Sighting the hoodlums, Mr Sowore said he ran for dear life. His car was however damaged as some of the windows got shattered into smithereens. Mr Sowore and other car occupants also sustained injuries from the shattered glass windows.

Condemning the attack, HEDA said it was worrisome that security operatives were present and appeared unbothered as hoodlums unleashed terror on the activist.

HEDA who accused the SSS and Police of complicity in the assault, charged them to investigate the crime and prosecute culprits to prove their innocence and uphold their integrity.

The human rights organisation noted that there was a war being waged against activists in the form of “physical attacks, futile litigation, unwarranted arrests and detention, media propaganda, blackmail” by the current federal government to “eliminate all activists”.

The statement signed by Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA’s Chairman, also urged journalists to be their brother’s keeper by investigating attacks on fellow journalists in order to “protect the freedom of expression, without which the media cannot survive.”