Amnesty International has reported that 15 protesters who were arrested during Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests in 2020 are still being arbitrarily detained three years later. The majority of these protesters are held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos without trial. Amnesty International accused the authorities of filing trumped-up charges, including theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder, against many of the protesters.
Amnesty International’s Director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, stated that this situation shows “the authorities’ contempt for due process of law,” and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the protesters. The report highlights the Nigerian authorities’ disregard for human rights and the need for justice and respect for due process in the country.
These cases underscore the ongoing challenges surrounding human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria and the need for reforms to address these issues.