The Amnesty International, a Human rights organisation, revealed that about 1000 protesters arrested during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest are still detained.
It is reported that the protests, which were held between August 1 and 10, was supposed to be a peaceful protest, however, turned violent in some parts of the country, with reports of looting and vandalism in several states. The menace caused by the protesters led to the arrest .
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on August 6, announced that the police had arrested some of the sponsors of rioters who raised foreign flags, requesting for a change of government in states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara, among others.
However, in a post via its X handle, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday, the Human rights organisation accused the Nigerian authorities of escalating a crackdown on peaceful protesters by arraigning over 100 protesters in court.
The oragnisation, however, demanded for an immediate and release, with no conditions attached, of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly
The post says, “The Nigerian authorities are escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters against hunger and corruption. Over 1,000 people have been remanded nationwide. Today 441 people were arraigned in Kano, in what is set out to be an unfair trial based on trumped-up charges.
“Amnesty International again calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. Nigeria’s government is obligated to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
