#NorthIsBleeding: Amnesty International condemns arrests of peaceful protesters in northern Nigeria
Amnesty International has condemned the wanton arrests of peaceful protesters against rampant insecurity across northern Nigeria.
The organization said it received disturbing reports of the arrests of protest organizers by the police and the DSS in FCT, Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Zaria, Gombe and Kaduna.
Amnesty International said, on Wednesday, the Nigerian Police unlawfully arrested 5 persons in Abuja during a peaceful protest seeking an end to the escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
The International Human Rights said Henry Nwodo, Moses Isijola, Marvellous Dominic (a minor) and two others were violently arrested in Apo area of Abuja as they were wrapping up the #NorthIsBleeding protests.
Amnesty International added that Bishir Dauda had been in police detention since Wednesday in Katsina, without access to a lawyer or his family.
“At least 10 protest organizers have been invited by the DSS in what appears to be an attempt to intimidate them.
“We call on Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested for exercising their right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. The DSS must stop using ‘invitations’ to intimidate protests organizers.
“The protesters have done nothing more than speak up for the protection of the right to life. The arrests appear to be an attempt to intimidate and harass those who refused to be silent in the face of government’s failure to protect lives,” Amnesty International said.
