Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has “strongly
\ncondemned reported violent attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters in
\nAbuja, Osogbo, and other parts of the country. The government of
\nPresident Muhammadu Buhari must end the use of excessive force against
\nprotesters, and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights.”<\/p>\n
The Department of State Services today reportedly arrested Olawale
\nBakare and six other #RevolutionNow protesters wearing orange-colored
\ncaps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State capital. Several
\nprotesters were also arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in the
\nAbuja metropolis.<\/p>\n
In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the
\norganization said: “By failing to adequately protect protesters from
\nviolent attacks, Nigerian authorities have blatantly violated their
\nobligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the
\nInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African
\nCharter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”<\/p>\n
“Nobody should be arrested or subjected to torture and ill-treatment
\nsimply for taking part in peaceful protests. The authorities should stop
\ncriminalising peaceful protesters.”<\/p>\n
“Rather than suppressing peaceful protests, the authorities ought to
\nprotect peaceful protesters and ensure a safe and enabling environment
\nfor people to exercise their constitutionally and internationally
\nguaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”<\/p>\n
“SERAP urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release
\nall those arrested, promptly investigate attacks on protesters, and
\nidentify security agents suspected to be responsible and bring them to
\njustice.”<\/p>\n
“Nigerian authorities need to take seriously the protesters’
\nsocio-economic grievances, including by immediately taking measures to
\ngenuinely fight grand corruption, and improve access of Nigerians to
\nbasic public goods and services.”<\/p>\n
“SERAP urges the international community including the UN Human Rights
\nCouncil, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the
\nAfrican Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to
\npublicly condemn attacks on peaceful protests and to put pressure on the
\nNigerian authorities to effectively investigate attacks on protesters,
\nprosecute perpetrators and to respect and protect the human rights of
\neveryone.”<\/p>\n
“Nigerian constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a
\nstate party guarantee the rights to liberty and security of person,
\nfreedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, and the right
\nof peaceful assembly.”<\/p>\n
“The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law
\nEnforcement Officials prohibit the use of excessive force against
\npeaceful protesters.”<\/p>\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has “strongly condemned reported violent attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja, Osogbo, and other parts of the country. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n