Amnesty International has strongly criticised what it describes as attempts by Nigerian security forces to suppress peaceful protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement issued on Monday, the global human rights group said it received “disturbing reports” of a crackdown on demonstrators who gathered in Abuja to peacefully express their views.
The protest, tagged #FreeNnamdiKanu, was organised by rights activists and supporters calling for the Federal Government to release Kanu, who has been in detention since his re-arrest in June 2021.
“Those arrested must be released immediately,” Amnesty said in the statement.
“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent.”
Amnesty International urged Nigerian authorities to ensure that security agencies respect and protect the rights of citizens, particularly those involved in peaceful demonstrations.
It reminded the government that the right to protest is guaranteed under both the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and international human rights laws to which the country is a signatory.
These include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which uphold freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
“The Nigerian authorities must ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest,” Amnesty said.
The group further stated that clamping down on protesters undermines the country’s democratic values and violates both domestic and international obligations.
Amnesty International called on the Federal Government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to protecting the fundamental rights of Nigerians, especially in sensitive political cases like that of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Authorities must show a commitment to upholding the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by allowing people to freely exercise their human rights,” the group said.
Amnesty’s statement adds to growing criticism from civil society organisations, opposition figures, and international observers who have expressed concern about the handling of Kanu’s prolonged detention and the suppression of related public expressions.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist group IPOB, has been held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 after being re-arrested abroad and brought back to Nigeria.
Kanu faces treason-related charges for his role in calling for the creation of an independent Biafran state.
His continued detention has sparked protests across parts of Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, and more recently in Abuja, where activists staged the latest #FreeNnamdiKanu protest over the weekend.
While the Federal Government maintains that his trial must follow due process, critics argue that Kanu’s human rights have been repeatedly violated.
