CITIZENS COMPASS—Over 1,000 #EndBadGovernance protesters are currently in prison custody across Nigeria.
The protesters were arrested across the nation during the ten days of the protests between August 1 and 10, 2024.
This was disclosed by a human rights organisation, Amnesty International, over the weekend.
The organisation on its X Handle has called on the government to release the protesters.
The post read, “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. The government of Nigeria has an obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
Amnesty International condemned unlawful arrests of the hunger protesters. “Activists Adaramoye Michael and Mosiu Sodiq have been unlawfully detained by Nigerian government since 5 August 2024, denied access to lawyer and family, in utter disregard for the rule of law. They are among hundreds of peaceful protesters targeted by security agencies:
“Arresting protesters should not be the priority of the Nigerian authorities — at a time millions of people are on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition and deep poverty. The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all the protesters.”
Meanwhile, one of the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, has called on Nigerians to rally round for the release of the protesters.
TIB made the call during one of its meetings in Abuja on weekend.
It disclosed this on its X Handle, “Today in Abuja, TIB movement stood united with our fellow Nigerians against the oppressive forces that have plagued our nation. We’ve reached a breaking point – we can no longer tolerate being cheated, violated, and robbed of our rights and our futures. Our resolution is clear;
“We Can’t Continue Like This.”
“Michael Adaramoye, who was arrested on August 5 by the Tinubu administration, has been arraigned in court alongside other activists.
‘Let’s support him by attending the court sitting on Monday, 9AM.”
Similarly, a pro-democracy group, the Network of Abuja Left Group has called for a live debate with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the continuous incarceration of the protesters.
