Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has alleged that more than 1,000 protesters from the recent #EndBadGovernance protests are being detained in various prisons across Nigeria. In a post shared on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, the organisation accused Nigerian authorities of intensifying a crackdown on peaceful demonstrations by arraigning over 1,000 protesters in court.
The protests, held from August 1-10, started as a peaceful call against hunger and hardship but turned violent in certain states, particularly in northern Nigeria. There were reports of violence, looting, and protesters seen carrying the Russian flag while chanting for the removal of President Bola Tinubu.
In response to the unrest, on August 6, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrest of several individuals accused of sponsoring rioters who displayed foreign flags and demanded a change of government in states like Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara. Among those arrested were seven Polish citizens, who Nigerian authorities claimed were connected to the violent activities.
Amnesty International condemned the government’s actions, asserting that the authorities had escalated the situation by cracking down on peaceful demonstrators. The organisation revealed that 441 protesters had been arraigned in Kano alone, and expressed concerns over what it called an “unfair trial based on trumped-up charges.”
In its statement, Amnesty International demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. The organisation reminded the Nigerian government of its responsibility to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
The situation remains tense as the legal proceedings against the protesters continue to unfold, with the international community closely monitoring developments.
