Amnesty International has accused Nigerian authorities of detaining over 1,000 protesters who participated in the #EndBadGovernance hunger and hardship protests.
Gatekeepers News reports that the organisation claims that the authorities have escalated a crackdown on peaceful protesters, arraigning over 1,000 people in court.
“The Nigerian authorities are escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters against hunger and corruption. Over 1,000 people have been remanded nationwide,” Amnesty International said in a statement. “Today 441 people were arraigned in Kano, in what is set out to be an unfair trial based on trumped-up charges.”
The organisation called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. “The government of Nigeria has an obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Amnesty International said.
The protests, held from August 1-10, turned violent in some states, with cases of looting and violence recorded. The Nigerian authorities have arrested several people, including seven Polish citizens, alleged to be linked to the violent protests.
