Amnesty condemns attack on protesters demanding action over school abductions in Ibadan

Human rights group, Amnesty International, has condemned the violent disruption of a peaceful protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling on authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

In a statement on Thursday, Amnesty International said a group of individuals allegedly sponsored to disrupt the demonstration attacked protesters who were demanding an end to the persistent abduction of schoolchildren across Nigeria.

According to the organisation, the protesters were marching from the Mokola area toward Bodija on Tuesday, June 2, under the banner of #BringBackOurPupilsAndTeachers, when they were attacked around the Sango area of Ibadan.

The protest, organised by the Take It Back Movement, was aimed at drawing attention to what organisers described as the failure of authorities to adequately protect schools, pupils and teachers from attacks by armed groups.

Amnesty International said several protesters sustained injuries during the attack, while vehicles were vandalised and personal belongings stolen.

“The authorities must investigate this incident and ensure that the attackers are held to account in fair trials,” the organisation said.

The rights group further expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of thugs being used to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, warning that such actions threaten the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

“People must be able to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent,” Amnesty International stated.

The organisation urged Nigerian authorities to safeguard citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and ensure that those participating in lawful protests are protected from violence and intimidation.

Amnesty condemns attack on protesters demanding action over school abductions in Ibadan