Amnesty International has made disturbing allegations regarding the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria, claiming at least 24 protesters were killed while over 1,200 minors detained during the August protests.
The organisation’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, unveiled a documented book titled “Bloody August: Nigeria Government’s Violent Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protests” at BON Hotel in Kano.
Sanusi stated that the protests, which took place across various states, were marked by excessive use of force by the police, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
In Kano, 20 young people, an older person, and two children were killed during the violent crackdown.
Sanusi emphasised that the police have consistently denied involvement in the killings, despite overwhelming evidence, including eyewitness accounts, videos, medical records, testimonies of victims’ parents and survivors, and photographs.
The brutal crackdown on the #EndBadGovernance protests is a clear manifestation of Nigerian authorities’ failure to respect and ensure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Sanusi lamented that protesting against government policies has become a matter of life and death in Nigeria.
Amnesty International has called on President Bola Tinubu and his government to conduct prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the protests.
The organisation demands that those suspected to be responsible are identified and brought to justice in fair trials.
Sanusi stressed that the Nigerian authorities must ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families.
