Serap Urges Tinubu To Release Protesters
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters on Friday, setting a total bail sum of ₦760 million, with two sureties required for each defendant.
A wave of indignation has swept through Nigeria as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) vehemently condemned the prolonged detention of #EndBadGovernance protesters, including 32 malnourished children.
In a scathing letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, SERAP called for the immediate release of the protesters, whose human rights were “shamelessly violated” in the name of law enforcement.
The development has sparked a fierce debate on the legitimacy of the prolonged detention, as well as the inhumane conditions under which the protesters have been held.
SERAP, in its condemnation of the situation, argued that the prolonged detention of the protesters was a “misuse of state power,” designed to intimidate and silence dissent. The group further warned that such actions would only result in the erosion of democracy and the rights of Nigerians.
This incident is particularly significant in light of the recent history of human rights abuses in Nigeria, particularly against activists and protesters. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly called for an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions of peaceful protesters in the country.
The situation has also drawn international attention, with Dr Matthew Gillett, the Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, being copied on SERAP’s letter to President Tinubu.
The attention of the UN highlights the gravity of the situation and the potential implications of the prolonged detention of peaceful protesters. It serves as a reminder that Nigeria, as a member of the United Nations, has an obligation to uphold human rights and to protect the fundamental freedoms of its citizens, including the right to peaceful assembly.
