The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has appealed to the federal government and law enforcement agencies to recognise protests as a fundamental human right and avoid criminalising them.
News About Nigeria reports that the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, made the plea during the commission’s dashboard presentation report for July and August 2024 in Abuja on Saturday.
He asked all levels of government to prepare for next month’s nationwide protest and refrain from criminalising the organisers.
Ojukwu said that the government has been given sufficient notice by the organisers, adding that it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to ensure strategies are in place to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the protest.
He condemned the deliberate use of force and disregard for the rights to peaceful protest and assembly, freedom of expression, and other associated rights exhibited by law enforcement agencies during the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.
On the issue of displacement, Ojukwu said that it is affecting numerous individuals and communities, citing NEMA’s report of 208,655 displaced persons in 22 states this year, an increase from 2023 figures.
“It is therefore imperative that the government take immediate and sustainable actions to address this pressing issue, ensuring the protection and well-being of all those affected by displacement and taking steps to avert the effects of flooding and other sources of displacement,” he lamented.
While presenting the human rights assessment dashboard, senior human rights adviser Hillary Ogbona said that over 1,200 people who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest last month have been arrested and detained by security agencies across the country.
The commission expressed concern that some protesters were detained beyond the legally allowed period before being taken to court.
According to the dashboard, the NHRC received 414,200 complaints of human rights abuses in the last two months, emphasising that protest is not a crime but a legitimate way to express grievances against unfavourable government policies and programmes.
Ogbona stated: “Government should not attempt to stop protest but to guide it. At the same time, the government should not lump genuine protesters with criminals.
“You don’t arrest and detain people for protest. Looting and destruction of properties are not protests but acts of criminality, which should not be regarded as part of peaceful protests,” he added.
