Global human rights organization Amnesty International has issued a demand for the immediate release of all #EndBadGovernance protesters detained by President Bola Tinubu’s Nigerian government.
Responding to the resumption of treason trials against #EndBadGovernance protesters, Amnesty International’s press release on Friday made it clear that the Tinubu government must immediately release all detained activists. The global human rights organization emphasized the urgent need to address the hunger crisis and cease the crackdown on peaceful dissent.
The organization highlighted the appalling conditions endured by these minors who were brought to court on Friday, many of whom have become malnourished and even collapsed in court.
The minors were arrested because they participated in the protests.
In its recent statement, the organisation said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must immediately and unconditionally order the immediate and unconditional release of all the #EndBadGoverananceInNigeria protesters still unlawfully detained nationwide solely for exercising the right to peaceful protest.
“Detaining the protesters since August and slamming them with bizarre charges that include ‘treasonable felony’ and ‘terrorism related offences’ show Nigerian government’s utter disregard for the right to freedom of assembly.”
“The 114 protesters arraigned today at the Federal High Court Abuja have not done anything unlawful and did not deserve the horrifying treatment they have been receiving from the day of their arrest to date. Out of the 76 protesters arraigned in the first batch of the trial today, majority are minors and the collapse of four them in the courtroom is enough evidence of the poor state of their mental and physical health.
“Putting minors through a horrifying detention for demanding good governance shows the government’s clear determination to crush dissent.
“In Katsina, 12 children under 16-years are also facing an unfair trial. Many of the children ended up in detention for just being on the streets during the protests. Children with their whole lives ahead of them are now at the risk of being tried on trumped up charges. This is unacceptable. In the aftermath of the protests in August, over 1000 people were detained nationwide. Some people were killed in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger state and Maiduguri because of violent crackdown on peaceful protests by security personnel.”
“Putting minors through unlawful detention and sham trials is a new dimension of Nigerian government’s persistent attacks on human rights. With millions of people on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition and deep poverty, President Bola Tinubu’s government should urgently be addressing widespread hunger and the rapidly falling standard of living, instead of prioritising punishing protesters.”
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