Amnesty International on Wednesday called for an end to what it described as the Nigerian government’s repression of peaceful protests.
On October 1, youths gathered in various locations to draw attention to the economic hardship, hunger, and high cost of living affecting many Nigerians. The protests, tagged #FearlessInOctober, are seen as a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance protests that occurred from August 1 to 10. However, there were reports of some protesters being teargassed during Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
In a statement, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, urged the government to listen to its critics instead of suppressing peaceful demonstrations.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop their repressive tactics against peaceful protests and listen to critics, especially as the country faces its worst economic crisis in three decades,” Sanusi said. “On October 1, peaceful protesters were met with excessive tear gas use and arbitrary arrests, particularly in Abuja. Armed security personnel also blocked protest spaces in many cities, and organizers were detained in Kano and Plateau.”
Sanusi further condemned the detention of five protest organizers from Kano, who are reportedly being held in an undisclosed location in Abuja without access to legal representation or family.
He urged the government to stop using security forces to suppress the people’s right to protest and instead address the genuine grievances that sparked the demonstrations. “Millions of Nigerians cannot afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education. Many families are on the verge of starvation, while corruption and mismanagement persist. Promises made by the government to resolve these issues remain unfulfilled.”
Sanusi also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested before and during the protests, including those detained since the August demonstrations. He demanded that the “bogus charge of treason” against some participants in the August protests be dropped.
On October 1, youths gathered in various locations to draw attention to the economic hardship, hunger, and high cost of living affecting many Nigerians. The protests, tagged #FearlessInOctober, are seen as a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance protests that occurred from August 1 to 10. However, there were reports of some protesters being teargassed during Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary.
In a statement, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, urged the government to listen to its critics instead of suppressing peaceful demonstrations.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop their repressive tactics against peaceful protests and listen to critics, especially as the country faces its worst economic crisis in three decades,” Sanusi said. “On October 1, peaceful protesters were met with excessive tear gas use and arbitrary arrests, particularly in Abuja. Armed security personnel also blocked protest spaces in many cities, and organizers were detained in Kano and Plateau.”
Sanusi further condemned the detention of five protest organizers from Kano, who are reportedly being held in an undisclosed location in Abuja without access to legal representation or family.
He urged the government to stop using security forces to suppress the people’s right to protest and instead address the genuine grievances that sparked the demonstrations. “Millions of Nigerians cannot afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education. Many families are on the verge of starvation, while corruption and mismanagement persist. Promises made by the government to resolve these issues remain unfulfilled.”
Sanusi also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested before and during the protests, including those detained since the August demonstrations. He demanded that the “bogus charge of treason” against some participants in the August protests be dropped.