Amnesty International has reported that over 1,000 protesters involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance demonstrations are currently being held in prison custody across Nigeria. These protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, were marked by incidents of violence, looting, and vandalism in various states.
The protests, initially sparked by widespread hunger and economic hardship, escalated in several regions, leading to clashes between demonstrators and security forces. On August 6, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun announced that police had arrested individuals allegedly sponsoring the riots, particularly in states like Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara, where rioters were seen hoisting foreign flags and calling for a change of government.
In a recent post on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, Amnesty International accused the Nigerian authorities of intensifying a crackdown on peaceful protesters, with over 100 individuals being prosecuted in court. The organization condemned these actions, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained protesters.
“The Nigerian authorities are escalating a 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,” the post read.
Amnesty International reiterated its call for the Nigerian government to respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, urging the immediate release of those arrested during the protests. The organization emphasized the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring that the legal proceedings against the protesters are conducted fairly.