Urgent action is demanded by Amnesty International for the immediate and unconditional release of Umar Danjani, a protester associated with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement, who was taken into custody in Jigawa State.
While partaking in a demonstration that involved thousands of Nigerians exercising their rights, Danjani was reportedly apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force on Thursday.
Subsequent to his arrest, Danjani was presented in court on Friday and subsequently ordered to be incarcerated at Birnin Kudi prison.
Amnesty International has expressed its concerns through a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, denouncing the apprehension with a call for his release.
The statement emphasized that “It is against the law to intimidate and arrest individuals for expressing critical views.”
Abiyos Roni confirmed the detention of Danjani, alleging that he was imprisoned for a span of two weeks for participating in a protest against governmental mismanagement.
The arrest took place amidst a series of nationwide protests that swept through major urban centers and the Federal Capital Territory.
Kicking off on Thursday, the demonstrations witnessed a multitude of Nigerians venting their frustration over the country’s deteriorating economic state, escalating inflation, governance issues, and insecurity.
Nevertheless, the protests were marred by instances of police aggression.
There were reports indicating that journalists and media personnel encountered arrests, physical abuse, intimidation, and obstruction while covering the occurrences.
For example, in Abuja, Daily Independent photojournalist Jide Oyekunle was wrongfully detained and had his mobile device confiscated by law enforcement officers.
NewsNow highlighted that a minimum of 12 journalists and media professionals suffered from police brutality or assaults from government-backed hooligans on the inaugural day of the protests.
The nationwide demonstrations, scheduled to span ten days, serve as a platform for citizens to voice their grievances against the hardships exacerbated under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.