Leading civil society organizations (CSOs) across Nigeria have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees arrested during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests. In interviews with Daily Trust in Abuja, several CSO leaders emphasized the importance of respecting citizens’ rights to peaceful protest and criticized the prolonged detention of protesters, especially minors.
Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), praised the president’s intervention in securing the release of some minors but advocated for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their arrests and detentions. He urged that anyone involved in wrongful detention should face appropriate sanctions.
Similarly, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, highlighted that it was public outcry that ultimately led to the detainees’ release, stressing the importance of prompt government response to avoid such detentions in the future.
Mallam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), also commended President Tinubu for directing the Attorney General to secure the release of minors and called for this directive to extend to all detained protesters. CISLAC emphasized that this action would promote unity and justice, highlighting the importance of addressing citizens’ grievances constructively.
Rafsanjani further advocated for systemic reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice and policing systems. He called for an overhaul of the judiciary to combat corruption and enhance police recruitment practices, ultimately aiming to foster a more accountable and transparent justice system.
