ABUJA – The South-South Youth Amalgamation (SSYA) has strongly criticized Amnesty International (AI), accusing the global human rights organization of interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs and seeking to undermine the nation’s leadership.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Convener, John Albert Clarkson, the group described Amnesty International’s recent reports on Nigeria’s security situation as “biased, misleading, and a threat to the country’s sovereignty.”
Clarkson alleged that AI has a consistent history of selective reporting aimed at discrediting Nigerian leaders, claiming the organization played a similar role during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We find these reports not only misleading but also a deliberate attempt to undermine the sovereignty of our nation in the same manner they discredited the leadership of our former President, Goodluck Jonathan,” Clarkson said.
He accused AI of acting more like a political tool than an impartial human rights body, arguing that its reports fail to account for the complexity of Nigeria’s security landscape and instead present an unbalanced picture of chaos and incompetence.
“The recent reports on Nigeria are no exception. They lack depth, context, and objectivity,” he added.
The group further claimed that AI’s past criticisms contributed to President Jonathan’s electoral defeat, suggesting that his counter-insurgency and regional policies were more effective than the organization acknowledged. Clarkson argued that Nigeria’s current political stability and economic growth are signs that Jonathan’s approach has since been vindicated.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, SSYA cited examples of Russia, India, Turkey, and Venezuela—nations where AI was either expelled or had its operations curtailed for allegedly promoting anti-government narratives.
The youth group urged the Nigerian government to reconsider its relationship with Amnesty International and adopt a more cautious stance toward its activities.
“We call on our government to distance itself from the activities of Amnesty International and to reconsider its support for the organization,” Clarkson said.
The SSYA also called on Nigerians to remain alert and critical of what it termed “external narratives” that could distort the country’s image or destabilize its democratic institutions.
“Let us stand together in defense of truth and justice, and let us not waver in our commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and integrity,” Clarkson concluded.
