Despite ban on protests by police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, protesters have besieged the Abuja office of rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, for the third day.
The police, on Wednesday, July 17, announced restriction on protests in Abuja in the bid to ensure the security of lives and property after police clash with Shi’ites left many dead.
A statement issued by police spokesperson Frank Mbah said, “the Inspector-General of Police M.A. Adamu, has restricted all forms of protests within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the Unity Fountain, central business district, Abuja.”
But since Friday, a group of protesters – believed to be sponsored by agents of the federal government – have continued to besiege the office of Amnesty International Nigeria calling on the organization to leave Nigeria immediately.
Chanting disparaging songs, they also accused AI of being sponsored by the opposition, claiming that the human rights group was taking sides with the nation’s enemies.
On its part, Amnesty International said that it has been working on Nigeria since 1967 and the organization has no any affiliation political, social, religious or commercial entity. The organization pointed out that it will continue to hold government to account for human rights abuses.
An investigation shows that many of the protesters are Internally Displaced Persons from camps outside Abuja and most of them when asked don’t even know what Amnesty International is all about.
Nigerian government accused the organization of supporting moves to topple the government, but Amnesty International insisted its support is only for human rights and freedom.
