One year after protesting #endbadGovernance, the victims were still waiting for justice, Amnesty Int’L shouted

A year after the national #endbadgrovernance protest that shook Nigeria in August 2024, Amnesty International said the Nigerian government had failed to provide justice to the victims and people who survived the hard acts of a peaceful demonstrators.

In a statement released on Friday through its official website and social media platform, Amnesty International condemned what was described as a sustainable deadline by Nigeria’s authority to investigate and ask for responsibility.

“Nigerian authorities have not taken appropriate and effective steps to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the right to freedom of expression and a peaceful assembly,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

Protest, which began on August 1 and lasted ten days until August 10, 2024, was triggered by a wave of economic difficulties, inflation, rising fuel prices, and widespread dissatisfaction with government policy. Residents in big cities throughout the country took to the streets to demand increased governance and accountability.

However, according to Amnesty’s investigation, peaceful demonstrations met with excessive and deadly strength by security institutions. The organization reported that at least 24 protesters were killed by police between 1 and 10 August in the six northern states – Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Niger, and Kaduna.

Amnesty revealed that officers often fired a rotation directly from close range, which aimed at the head and body-a pattern that suggested the tactics of the shoot-to-murder. “Two people who survived were injured after being shot by police on the arms and legs, while others died limply with the use of tear gas indiscriminately,” the report said.

The statement further accused that some protesters experienced torture, hunger, and inhuman detention conditions. One very troublesome incident involved a minor fainting before the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 1, 2024, after being rejected by adequate food and medical attention.

Apart from the many evidence, Amnesty said the government had continued to advance with prosecution. “The Nigerian authorities continue with all the accusations filed against the #endbadGokernance protesters even though there is extraordinary evidence that they do not violate any law,” the group said.

“In Maiduguri, the state of Borno, several demonstrators #endbadgrovernance were punished and sentenced to community services, whips, or prisons after fake trials on false accusations. The accusation included forming a group called the ‘Zanga Zanga’ group and agreed to take weapons against the government,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, in Abuja, other protesters are still facing trials in the Federal High Court, where they are accused of collecting a war against the state, inciting rebel, and trying to confuse Nigeria.

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Amnesty condemned the entire episode as “a clear demonstration of government neglect to human rights,” added that the government’s rejection to investigate or punish police officers involved in violations only strengthen the culture of dangerous impunity.

“The Nigerian government has failed to ask for police accountability for a terrible attack on the #endbadGokernance protesters. Failing to ask for responsibility for the police will only encourage security forces to continue to use firearms as tactical tools to manage demonstrations,” the group warned.

Calling the international community to take a stronger attitude, Amnesty said: “The international community must also take a stand and ask the Nigerian government to respect and protect human rights. The use of deadly power and arbitrary arrests is unacceptable and must be condemned.”

Amnesty International concluded by urged the Nigerian government to act without further delay. “One year after protests, the victims and survivors are still waiting for justice. The Nigerian government must take immediate action to overcome human rights violations and ensure that those who are responsible are held accountable.”

Although the protest has ended, Amnesty noted, requests for justice and reform continued. “Protest #endbadGokernance may have ended, but the struggle for justice and accountability continues.”