Amnesty International (AI) has cleared the air on its mission in Nigeria, saying the organization is not here to oppose or fight the government, but to ensure that human rights are respected and protected.

The clarification was made during a two-day human rights reporting workshop for journalists in the South West, held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking at the event, AI’s Finance and Office Manager, Benedicta Ofili, said that Amnesty’s focus is solely on defending human rights, not targeting any political administration.

“We are not in Nigeria to fight the government,” Ofili stressed. “Our concern is to ensure people’s rights are properly managed and protected.”

She explained that before Amnesty International responds to any situation, the organization thoroughly verifies facts, conducts impact assessments, and does not act based on hearsay or rumors.

Ofili also encouraged journalists to boldly report human rights issues, adding that the media plays a key role in holding power accountable and giving a voice to the voiceless.

“If people see something wrong, they may keep quiet. But the media can speak up. The media is the voice people listen to,” she said.

The training aimed to empower journalists to cover human rights stories with accuracy, fairness, and courage — reinforcing AI’s position as a watchdog, not a rival to government.