Ensure right of protesters, Amnesty International tells authorities

As the nationwide protests linger across the country, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, has urged the Nigerian authorities to ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both the country’s constitution and human rights treaties.

Sanusi in a press release also said government officials must also refrain from issuing rhetoric to demonise protesters and stifle peaceful dissent.

He said authorities must not use the nationwide protests as a ploy to crack down on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. The arrests of at least three people last week for allegedly supporting the protests on social media show the authorities’ intolerance of peaceful dissent.

“The escalating price of food is driving millions of people in Nigeria deeper into poverty, while countless families are increasingly unable to afford the costs of healthcare and education.

“The Nigerian authorities must begin to seriously address the underlying issues driving the protests instead of ramping up repression and stifling peaceful dissent.

“Authorities must show their commitment to upholding the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by allowing people to freely exercise their human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” he said.