Hunger protest: Amnesty International condemns planned mass trial of protesters

Amnesty International has condemned the planned mass trial of hundreds of protesters arrested during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 to 10, 2024.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, criticized the Federal Government’s handling of the situation.

It therefore labelled the trials a blatant attempt to punish dissent and stifle critical voices.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters arraigned nationwide today are only going to be subjected to another round of the government’s unrelenting efforts to punish protesters and demonise protests,” said Sanusi.

While stating the severity of the charges being brought against the protesters, such as treason, which carries the death penalty, and accusations of a “plan to destabilise Nigeria,” Sanusi described these charges as blatantly trumped-up.

“These are blatantly trumped-up charges that must be immediately withdrawn,” he stated.

The organization faulted the nature of the trials, condemning them as a sham even before they had begun.

Amnesty International therefore called for an immediate end to what it described as “endless bizarre attempts” to deprive citizens of their right to peaceful protest.

“We condemn the sham trials even before they begin and call for an end to these endless bizarre attempts to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest,” Sanusi stated.

“What is going to happen to these protesters—who took to the streets last month seeking good governance—is a disguised exercise solely aimed at punishing dissenters,” Sanusi said.

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