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By George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Coalition of South East Civil Society Organisations has expressed deep concern over the increasing securitisation of civic space in the region, warning that the trend is becoming critical ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition noted that state security measures are increasingly encroaching upon activities essential to democratic life, including media reporting, peaceful assembly, political opposition, community organizing, human rights advocacy, public litigation, and social media expression. These activities, the group stressed, are fundamental features of a constitutional democracy rather than security threats.
The concern was highlighted in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a One-Day Closed-Door Accountability Dialogue on Civic Space in the South East. The event was organiwed by a coalition that includes the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the Virgin Heart in, and VIDI. Speaking at the event, RULAAC Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, highlighted findings from recent civil rights documentations. He referenced their recent interventions documenting the experiences of journalists, activists, and citizens whose civic freedoms were restricted or abused. He raised the question of how society can respond effectively to genuine insecurity without allowing security institutions and state power to become tools for suppressing constitutionally protected civic activities. Nwanguma explained that securitisation occurs when legitimate civic engagement is reframed as a criminal or security problem. Under this dynamic, a critic becomes a troublemaker, an activist an agitator, a journalist a purveyor of false information, a human rights defender a security threat, and a political opponent an enemy. Once these labels stick, arbitrary surveillance, arrests, and prolonged detentions become easier to justify, while procedural safeguards are treated as inconveniences.
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He cited the case of human rights defender Emmanuel Acha, Chairman of the Enugu State Civil Society Network, who was arrested in March 2025 while advocating on the Effium-Ezza communal conflict in Ebonyi State. According to him, Acha spent nine months in remand on grave security charges before being discharged and acquitted in December 2025. Acha, who attended the dialogue, noted that he received no remedy or accountability from the state government for his unjust detention.
Adding to these concerns, Peace Dike, Executive Director of the Virgin Heart Foundation, observed that growing fear in the South East had forced journalists and community leaders to self-censor. She called for clear institutional channels to address complaints against security personnel, emphasising that security and civic freedom are not opposing forces, as a strong security institution protects citizens while respecting their dignity.
Highlighting recent events in Imo State, Marjorie Ezihe of the Community Justice Centre reported an incident at Ogboisisi market where police officers reportedly fired live ammunition during an enforcement operation, scattering traders and damaging parked vehicles. In response, Dr. Ikenna Obi of the Imo State Ministry of Justice stated that the ministry monitors arrests and legal processes to ensure due process is maintained and civic space is preserved.
