The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) reported that its website has been attacked five times and subjected to 50 virus incidents over the past five years. The organization believes these attacks are closely linked to subversive agents of the retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari‑led government, which it describes as “intolerant and grossly rights‑abusive.”
In a statement released on Friday, InterSociety said its website was shut down in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and most recently on Tuesday, 4 April 2023. Since its inception, the site has endured at least 50 virus attacks—averaging ten severe attacks per year—forcing the group to spend considerable resources to restore the site and recover advocacy files. Regarding the latest shutdown, the organization was informed in writing by its domain host that “our website hosting has been suspended as a result of numerous complaints and petitions against the site, and the majority of these petitions are from your region (Nigeria).”
The civil‑society organization’s investigation concluded that the attackers were agents of the outgoing Nigerian government, specifically elements within the military, spy police, cyber, and information ministries. InterSociety emphasized that it predates the current administration, having been founded in July 2008, whereas the Buhari government took office in late May 2015.
InterSociety also criticized the government’s endorsement and protection of entities despite numerous allegations of human‑rights abuses that have led some officials to be summoned to international tribunals in The Hague, New York, Geneva, Brussels, and Paris. The statement noted that more than 360 pro‑government NGOs have been registered since 2015, with the number rising to about 600 by the end of 2022.
Finally, InterSociety called for urgent intervention to prevent government ownership and censorship of civil‑society organisations, urging collective action to safeguard groups such as Amnesty International‑Nigeria and the African Nigerian Section of Human Rights Watch (USA).
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