In response to the resumed trial of #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the immediate and unconditional release of detained demonstrators.
Sanusi asserted that these individuals were unlawfully detained solely for exercising their right to peaceful protest.
“President Tinubu must release all #EndBadGovernance protesters who remain in detention on charges such as ‘treasonable felony’ and ‘terrorism-related offences,’” said Sanusi.
“These charges demonstrate the government’s disregard for freedom of assembly,” he said.
Friday’s arraignment saw 114 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with 76 minors included in the initial batch.
Witnesses reported several minors collapsing in court due to apparent poor health conditions, highlighting the mental and physical toll of their prolonged detention.
In Katsina, 12 children under the age of 16 also faced trial.
Sanusi emphasized that some minors were detained simply for being present during protests and were now charged with offences that he described as “trumped-up.”
The recent crackdown, which saw over 1,000 arrests and deaths in states such as Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina, reflects what Amnesty calls a significant escalation in human rights violations.
Sanusi urged the government to prioritize addressing Nigeria’s urgent economic issues, including poverty and food insecurity, rather than focusing on suppressing dissent.
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