Amnesty International condemns Nigeria’s crackdown on peaceful protests

Amnesty International has called on the federal government to end its repression of peaceful protests, amid what the organisation describes as the country’s worst economic crisis in three decades.

The appeal follows youth-led #FearlessInOctober demonstrations on October 1, where protesters took to the streets to press home to the government the growing economic hardship, hunger, and high cost of living faced by Nigerians.

Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, on Wednesday, condemned the government’s response to the protests, stating, “The Nigerian authorities must end their repressive approach to peaceful protests and listen to critics. Yesterday, people that turned out to peacefully protest were met with unnecessary and excessive use of tear gas and arbitrary arrests.”

Sanusi also pointed to the arrest of protest organisers in Kano and Plateau states, noting that five individuals remain detained in an undisclosed location in Abuja without access to legal representation or contact with their families.

According to Amnesty International, it is concerning that the authorities used excessive force, including the use of tear gas and arbitrary arrests, to disperse protesters. The group further noted human rights violation, especially the detention of protest leaders without access to lawyers or family members was condemned.

Sanusi urged the government to address the underlying causes of the protests, including corruption and poor governance, rather than silencing those who speak out.

“The government must stop using security personnel to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest and pay attention to the real grievances that triggered the protests,” he said.

The organisation, therefore, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters who have been detained.

The group is also demanding that the government drop what it describes as “bogus” treason charges against participants in the August protests.

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