- Says Govt Has Duty to Respect Rights to Protest
Global rights organisation, Amnesty International in Nigeria has condemned intimidation of individuals believed to be involved in planning the August protests in the country.
The organisation said it is aware of the arrest of some persons connected with the planned protests saying that the government has the duty to protect the rights of citizens.
Describing the situation as “unacceptable,” the body said “Amnesty International has been receiving disturbing reports of arrests of youth who printed materials related to protest against widespread hunger and corruption. Some reported receiving threatening phone calls for social media posts on peaceful protest.”
Amnesty International said people have a right to protest peacefully, adding that “the Nigerian authorities have a duty to respect, facilitate and protect this right.”
It went further, “Arrests should not be the priority of the Nigerian authorities at a time millions of people are on the brink of starvation and deep poverty.”
Talks of nationwide protests over the worsening state of the economy have been rife in the past few days.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appealed to organisers of the protests to drop the idea saying that his government listens and feels the hardship.