‘Do Not Threaten Nigerians Protesting Against Hardship, Hunger’, Amnesty International Warns Tinubu Administration

Amnesty International, an international human rights organization, has sent a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging it not to engage in actions that threaten Nigerians participating in peaceful protests against the current socio-economic hardships and food insecurity.

The warning comes amid growing tensions between the Nigerian government and citizens planning to demonstrate against the country’s dire living conditions.

In its statement, Amnesty International underscored the illegality of intimidating or harassing protesters and emphasized that Nigerians have the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest peacefully.

The organization’s warning echoes the concerns of many that the Nigerian government might resort to heavy-handed tactics to suppress the demonstrations. AI called on the Tinubu administration to respect and protect the right to peaceful protest, and to refrain from any attempt to silence the voices of Nigerians.

Previously, Nigerians were urged to take to the streets in August, in a mass demonstration against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, to vent their grievances over the nation’s abysmal economic state. The proposed nationwide protest, aimed at highlighting the plight of the people amid soaring inflation and crippling poverty.

Following the call, Dada Olusegun, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, threatened that any Nigerians who choose to protest against the government will encounter the most formidable opposition they have ever faced. Olusegun asserted that Tinubu’s supporters, who elected him as the country’s leader, will defend the administration against the protesters.

Reacting, Amnesty international posted on X: ”Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful. It is a clear attack on freedom of assembly — which is guaranteed by international law and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution:

”Nigerians must not be denied the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to peaceful protest; through veiled threats of violence and false insinuations.”