A coalition of 11 human rights groups has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Emmanuel Acha.
Acha is a human rights defender and chairperson of the Enugu State Civil Society Network.
The civil society organisations under the banner of the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) and allied networks across Nigeria expressed growing concerns over the ongoing clampdown on the civic space and human rights in Ebonyi State.
It also condemned the unjust arrest, inhumane treatment, and politically motivated prosecution of Acha.
The coalition said the case not only reflects a dangerous regression in the nation’s democratic values but also demonstrates the lengths to which state and non-state actors may go to silence lawful dissent.
“It is a chilling message to all human rights defenders and civil society leaders across the country,” the coalition said.
It said Comrade Acha was arrested in Enugu at about 5:00 am on March 2025 and transferred to the Abakaliki Prison in Ebonyi State.
The human rights groups alleged that the arrest was orchestrated in retaliation for a civil suit he filed in December 2024, challenging government actions in relation to the protracted Effium-Ezza land dispute in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
This land conflict, which escalated into inter-communal violence in 2021, has drawn multiple state interventions including the 2023 ceasefire agreement, the 2024 Bishop Michael Okoro Peace Committee, and the 2025 amnesty and deradicalization programme.
“While we commend these measures, we strongly condemn the use of state power and police machinery to punish dissenting voices under the guise of conflict resolution.
“Rather than engage Comrade Acha’s legal concerns through transparent and lawful channels, the state has chosen coercion over dialogue, detaining him without bail and bringing him before the court on trumped-up charges, which include allegations of arms possession and murder.
“He is being tried before a judge reportedly from the rival community involved in the conflict, a development that raises serious questions about judicial impartiality,” the coalition said.
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Furthermore, the coalition added that Acha, upon his arrest, was subjected to physical assault and psychological torment by police officers, one of whom is of Ezza ethnic extraction.
“No incriminating evidence was found on his person or in his home, and his arrest was not based on any judicial warrant.
“These actions contravene Sections 34, 35, and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the right to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of expression.
“He has now spent over three months in detention, without adequate medical care, and in violation of due process. This is a clear case of political persecution disguised as criminal prosecution,” the coalition stated.
They called on Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and relevant authorities to immediately order the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Acha and others detained for asserting their rights regarding the Effium-Ezza conflict.
