Amnesty International urges FG to end crackdown on Protesters amid economic crisis

Amnesty International on Wednesday called on the Nigerian government to cease its repression of peaceful protests, pointing to the nation’s worsening economic crisis, which has reached its most severe point in three decades.

The call for action came after protests erupted on October 1, where youths gathered to highlight the dire economic conditions, widespread hunger, and soaring cost of living affecting millions of Nigerians.

Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, condemned the government’s heavy-handed response, stating, “The Nigerian authorities must end their repressive approach to peaceful protests and listen to critics.”

Sanusi criticized the use of excessive force, including the deployment of tear gas and arbitrary arrests, to disperse demonstrators who had taken to the streets to voice their grievances.

Among the incidents that Amnesty International condemned were the arrests of protest organizers in Kano and Plateau states.

READ ALSO: Amnesty International condemns raid on NLC headquarters

Sanusi revealed that five individuals remain in detention in an undisclosed location in Abuja, held without access to legal representation or contact with their families.

Key Concerns Raised by Amnesty International:

Excessive Force: Amnesty International criticized the authorities for deploying tear gas and making arbitrary arrests to silence peaceful protests.

Human Rights Violations: The organization expressed concern over the unlawful detention of protest leaders without allowing them access to lawyers or family members.

Economic Hardship: Sanusi highlighted the dire living conditions faced by millions of Nigerians who are struggling to afford basic necessities like food, healthcare, and education.

Sanusi urged the government to focus on the underlying issues that fueled the protests, such as corruption and economic mismanagement, rather than suppressing dissent.

“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 added.

Amnesty International is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested during the protests and is calling for the government to drop the treason charges filed against participants in earlier protests.

The organization emphasized that peaceful demonstrations should be met with dialogue, not repression, as citizens exercise their right to express their concerns over the country’s economic decline.