Politics

#EndBadGovernance: How protesters suffered attacks from police, armed thugs under Tinubu’s watch: Amnesty International

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 10th, 2024.

#EndBadGovernance: How protesters suffered attacks from police, armed thugs under Tinubu’s watch: Amnesty International

Amnesty International has sharply criticized Nigerian authorities for their response to the #EndBadGovernance protests, which occurred over a ten-day period nationwide. The human rights organization has accused the government of deploying both police and armed thugs to target and assault demonstrators.

The organization highlighted a growing threat to the right of assembly in Nigeria, with security forces being used to marginalize, criminalize, and suppress peaceful protests through harsh and unjust measures. In a statement released on Saturday, Amnesty International detailed that since August 1, peaceful protesters have faced deadly force, unlawful tear gas use, attacks by hired thugs, violence against journalists, arbitrary detentions, severe beatings, and harmful rhetoric aimed at discrediting them.

The protests, which began on August 1 and concluded on Saturday, led to over 23 reported deaths nationwide, according to Amnesty International. The group has condemned the Nigerian authorities’ use of live ammunition and is calling for a comprehensive investigation into these incidents.

Despite evidence of police brutality, including beatings, tear-gassing, and shootings, Nigerian police have denied using excessive force. Additionally, reports from Peoples Gazette indicate that President Bola Tinubu is facing pressure from allies to consider more drastic measures in response to the ongoing protests against poverty and corruption.