Amnesty International has stated that over 1000 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters are currently in prison custody nationwide following the recent hunger protests.
The protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, turned violent in several regions of the country, with reports of looting and vandalism in multiple states.
On August 6, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun claimed that the police had detained some of the sponsors of rioters who flew foreign flags and demanded a change of government in states including Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara, among others.
However, in a statement on Friday via its X handle, the organisation accused Nigerian authorities of increasing a crackdown on nonviolent demonstrators by arraigning over 100 of them in court.
It reaffirmed its request for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.
The post read, “The Nigerian authorities are escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters against hunger and corruption. Over 1,000 people have been remanded nationwide. Today 441 people were arraigned in Kano in what is set out to be an unfair trial based on trumped-up charges.
“Amnesty International again calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. The government of Nigeria has an obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
