The detention of some #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters is a violation of their human rights as it is not an offence for citizens to peacefully protest to call the attention of the government to their plight.
Development Diaries reports that since the first day of the protest, the police, especially in the capital, Abuja, and some states in the north, have used violence to suppress demonstrations, firing tear-gas canisters at protesters and journalists as well as arresting them.
The police had confirmed that by the first day of the protests, they had arrested nearly 700 protesters across the country, with Amnesty International reporting that at least 13 people have been killed, mainly by the police, since the protests began.
However, the police have disputed the figures and the causes.
The protests entered day six yesterday as Nigerians continue to demand urgent economic reforms due to the increasing hunger and hardship in the country.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has also called the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the human rights violation of some peaceful protesters.
It is understood that a human rights activist and anti-corruption campaigner, Tunde Oluajo, and the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Michael Adaramoye, were among the protesters arrested in Abuja on Monday, 05 August, 2024.
The continued clampdown on peaceful protesters and protest organisers in Nigeria is contrary to the ideals of democracy. It is a sad reflection of the government’s intolerance for dissent.
Nigeria’s constitution recognises citizens’ rights to peaceful protest and assembly. The country is also a signatory to international human rights laws.
Therefore, such actions by security operatives in the country show a lack of respect for human rights and democratic ideals and undermine the government’s credibility in promoting and protecting these rights.
The government suppressing peaceful protests sends a message of intolerance towards opposing views and a lack of commitment to engaging with citizens’ concerns.
This action risks eroding public trust in the institutions meant to safeguard democracy and protect the rights of the people, ultimately weakening the very fabric of the democratic system Nigeria seeks to honour.
Development Diaries calls on the NHRC to ensure the immediate release of all citizens arrested by security operatives in connection with the peaceful exercise of their democratic rights.
We also call on the Nigerian police and other security agencies to respect citizens’ rights to protest peacefully.
