Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday expressed concerned over the killing of 8 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during the Arba’een – an annual symbolic trek along Gwarinpa Expressway, Abuja.
The International human rights group in a statement said the group were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life.
Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to put an end to the deadly crackdown on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that has been ongoing since 2015.
“Resorting to lethal force against peaceful protesters is a clear violation of Nigerian and international human rights law.
“At least 8 people were killed and 11 injured when security forces brutally attacked the protesters as they were rounding up their procession and getting ready to disperse.
“Horrific accounts from eyewitness confirmed that; security officials fired live ammunitions, flogged, stabbed and teargassed the peaceful protesters.
“Verified videos show security forces deliberately attacking unarmed protesters, and another video shows a security officer stab an elderly man several times as his colleague kicked him on the head in front of a bank in Gwarinpa, Abuja,” the statement read.
Amnesty International also asked the Nigerian authorities to immediately launch a prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigation into the killings and bring suspected perpetrators to justice in fair trails.
The rights group said Nigerian military and police must be held to account for the shocking use of deadly force on peaceful protesters
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