Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, has condemned Nigerian authorities for deploying police and armed thugs to attack #EndBadGovernance protesters during the 10-day nationwide protests.

“In Nigeria, the right to freedom of assembly is increasingly under severe attack. Authorities are using security agencies to stigmatize, criminalize, and crack down on peaceful protesters by imposing unjustified and punitive restrictions,” Amnesty International said, referring to the #EndBadGovernanceProtest.

In a statement on Saturday, the organisation stated, “Since August 1, peaceful protesters have been subjected to deadly use of firearms, unlawful use of tear gas, attacks by sponsored armed thugs, attacks on journalists, arbitrary arrests, severe beatings, and harmful rhetoric aimed at stigmatisation.”

Amnesty International’s statement comes as the ten-day protest, which began on August 1, concluded on Saturday. However, demonstrators have threatened to resume their actions in the near future.

According to Amnesty International, the protests have resulted in over 23 deaths nationwide as police unleashed violence on protesters.

The organisation has condemned the use of live ammunition by Nigerian authorities and called for a thorough investigation into these incidents.

Nigerian police have denied violently cracking down on protesters, despite footage showing them beating, tear-gassing, and opening fire on demonstrators.

On Tuesday, Peoples Gazette reported that President Bola Tinubu’s allies are pressuring him to authorise a desperate strategy that could dramatically escalate the stakes of the ongoing nationwide protest against poverty and corruption.