Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned in strong terms reports of security forces attempting to suppress peaceful demonstrations in Abuja, where protesters are demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement on its verified X handle on Monday, it stated that any attempt to undermine freedom of assembly is illegal and reflects an unacceptable intolerance of peaceful protest.
The organisation called for an immediate end to the crackdown and urged authorities to address the protesters’ grievances.
“Amnesty International receives disturbing reports of attempts to crackdown on peaceful protests held in Abuja, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria police, while defending its use of tear gas, also dismissed the report that it blocked the road, saying its men only cleared the area after protesters obstructed traffic.
In a statement via his X handle on Monday, the Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police’ action was in line with a subsisting court order restricting demonstrations in certain parts of the city.
“Police teargas protesters attempting to approach Aso Villa in clear contravention of a court order restricting protesters from the Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way.
“We are the country’s foremost law enforcement agency. We carried out our mandate.If You’re Reading From Phoenix Click On Read Original at the top To Read Full Article
“And we did NOT block the road but cleared it after it was blocked by the protesters. This is to enable other Nigerians easy passage to their respective destinations,” Hundeyin wrote.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
