Amnesty International condemns alleged attack on Democracy Day protesters, demands probe

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Amnesty International has condemned the alleged attack on peaceful protesters during a Democracy Day demonstration at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, calling for an immediate investigation into the incident that reportedly left human rights activist Omoyele Sowore hospitalised.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the rights organisation described the incident as a reckless assault on citizens exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

According to Amnesty International, Sowore reportedly collapsed during the protest and was subsequently taken to a hospital for medical attention.

The organisation said the circumstances surrounding the incident must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable.

“The deliberate targeting of Omoyele Sowore must be investigated,” Amnesty International stated.

The group argued that any action directed at activists solely for participating in peaceful demonstrations constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and undermines democratic principles.

“Such targeting of activists solely for exercising freedom of assembly is unlawful and shows utter disregard for the rule of law,” the organisation said.

Amnesty International further accused Nigerian authorities of increasingly resorting to force and intimidation in response to peaceful civic engagement and dissenting voices.

The organisation expressed concern that actions against protesters could have a chilling effect on the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

“The Nigerian authorities are clearly using violence to crack down on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the statement added.

The rights group also criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that the government has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to protecting civil liberties and fulfilling Nigeria’s human rights obligations.

According to Amnesty International, democratic governance requires the protection of citizens’ rights to freely express their opinions, organise peacefully, and participate in public affairs without fear of harassment or violence.

The organisation urged authorities to uphold the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments guaranteeing freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

The Democracy Day protest was held as Nigerians marked the anniversary of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as one of the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history and a symbol of the nation’s democratic struggle.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from security agencies regarding Amnesty International’s allegations.