Nigeria Police Intensifies Crackdown on #EndBadGovernance Protesters

In a disturbing escalation of the Nigerian government’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices, at least 11 youths and residents in Yobe State were arrested on Saturday morning by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. The arrests, which were carried out in Damaturu, Potiskum, and Gashua areas of the state, appear to be a targeted crackdown on individuals who have been vocal in their criticism of the government’s handling of the economic crisis.

According to sources, the arrested youths were taken from their homes and are being detained at the state police CID in Damaturu. The arrests have generated widespread tension and concern among the local population, with many fearing that the police may expand their crackdown to punish all those who participated in the peaceful protests.

The arrests in Yobe State are part of a broader pattern of intimidation and harassment of protesters across Nigeria. In Jigawa State, global human rights organization Amnesty International has demanded the immediate release of Umar Danjani, one of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters who was arrested on Thursday while exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Danjani’s arrest and subsequent remand in Birnin Kudi prison have been widely condemned as unlawful and a clear violation of his human rights. Amnesty International has called for his immediate and unconditional release, stating that “subjecting critical voices to intimidation and arbitrary arrests for speaking out is unlawful.”

The crackdown on protesters in Nigeria has sparked widespread outrage and concern among human rights activists and organizations. Sahara Reporters, a leading online news platform, has condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of all those detained. The platform has also urged citizens to continue exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest, despite the risks.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the Nigerian government will relent in its efforts to suppress dissenting voices. However, one thing is clear: the arrests in Yobe State and elsewhere in Nigeria are a clear violation of human rights and a betrayal of the trust placed in the government by its citizens.

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