Amnesty International has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu's administration for its violent suppression of #EndHunger protesters and the subsequent raids on the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and National Labour Congress (NLC) offices.
In a statement released on Friday, the human rights organization expressed deep concern over the government's blatant disregard for human rights and its determination to stifle dissenting voices.
The organization stated, "The violent crackdown on protesters against hunger nationwide since 1 August, trailed by attacks on civil society organisations, are a worrying indication of President Bola Tinubu's government's utter disregard for human rights and determination to crush dissent."
Amnesty International further highlighted the unlawful invasion of the CDHR office in Ikeja, Lagos, and the ransacking of the NLC headquarters, describing it as a "dangerous dimension to the attacks on freedom of association." The organization warned that the shrinking civic space in Nigeria would create a toxic climate of fear, putting activists, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and journalists at risk.
The human rights organization had previously denounced the Nigerian police for deploying live bullets against protesters, resulting in the deaths of over 20 people since the nationwide protest began on August 1. However, the Nigerian police have denied any fatalities, despite footage showing them opening fire on protesters.
Meanwhile, the Take It Back Movement, a key organizer of the #EndBadGovernance protests, has announced plans for a massive grand finale to the nationwide demonstrations against economic hardship under President Tinubu's administration. The group remains resolute in its demands, including the reversal of fuel subsidy removal and addressing the food crisis in the country, while also calling for justice for protesters killed by security operatives during the nationwide protest.