Amnesty International Condemns Killing of 13 Protesters in Nigeria
In a strongly worded statement, Amnesty International has condemned the alleged killing of 13 protesters by security personnel across Nigeria, describing the development as "unjustified and unacceptable".
According to the organization, the incidents occurred in Suleja, Niger State, where six persons were killed and dozens wounded, Maiduguri, where four persons were killed, and Kaduna, where three other persons were killed. Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate the incidents impartially and effectively, and to ensure that security personnel suspected of responsibility for the alleged deadly use of force are held to account through fair trial.
The organization expressed concern over the Nigerian authorities’ growing hostility to dissent and the relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. In a statement, Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said that their findings show that security personnel deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty.
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to take concrete steps to address the impact of recent reforms on economic, social and cultural rights, including people’s rights to health and education. The organization has also demanded that all those arrested for taking part in the protest be released immediately and unconditionally, and that authorities end the rampant violations of people’s rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The organization’s statement is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and respect for human rights in Nigeria. The international community is watching with keen interest, and it is essential that the Nigerian government takes concrete steps to address these concerns and ensure that those responsible for the killing of protesters are held accountable.
