SERAP Calls for Immediate Release
Over 30 RevolutionNow protesters demonstrating in various parts of Lagos State during the October 1st Independence Day Anniversary, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.
The protesters on Thursday 1st of October, 2020, had trooped to the streets in various parts of the state to protest against what they described as the government’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians through unfavourable policies and corrupt practices. The group is calling for a complete overhaul of the Nigeria system of governance.
A statement by the Lagos State Police Command and signed by the PPRO Muyiwa Adejobi, informed that the protesters were nabbed at various locations within the State for unlawful assembly and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and other offences including violation of COVID-19 directives in the state.
The statement also disclosed that the individuals, who will be charged to court on Friday 2, 2020, were arrested during demonstration, with their crested vests of #RevolutionNow while also carrying placards.
Meanwhile, Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP), in its reaction, hascalled for the immediate release of the arrested individuals, while also condemning the attacks on protesters across the states of the federation, including the assault by a police officer, Adadu Innocent, on a photo journalist reporting for the Punch Newspaper earlier today.
In a statement released via their social media pages, SERAP call for an immediate intervention by the Nigerian authorities to prevail on the situation and put a stop to the incessant attacks on peaceful individuals exercising their rights to protest.
SERAP maintains that Nigerians have every reason to peacefully protest repression which forms part of their constitutional rights. The statement reads; “Nigerians have every reason to peacefully protest repression, and the government of President Buhari has constitutional and international human rights obligations to allow them to do so safely and without any harassment”.
SERAP, a non-profit, legal and advocacy organization devoted to promoting transparency, accountability and respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria, also for intervention from the international community for the protection of rights of the Nigerian citiens.
“We call on the international community and @UNHumanRights, @UN_SPExperts @ACHPR to publicly condemn these violations and to hold Nigerian authorities to account for systematic violations of human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”