The Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) has warned that it will take international legal action if the arrested protesters and the journalist continue to remain in custody.
The police dispersed some protesters on Monday, who gathered for the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest at the National Stadium, Lagos.
During the process of dispersing the crowd, the police arrested some protesters and a journalist with online news platform, SaharaReporters.
Reacting to the arrests by the police, SERAP condemned the action of the security operatives in a series of tweets on Monday.
It insisted that Nigerians deserve to exercise their constitutional and internationally recognised human right to peaceful protest without fear of being targeted.
“Sections 39 (1) and 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) is clear: Stopping people from peacefully exercising their freedom of expression and right to protest is unacceptable and illegal.
“Whoever approved this needs a remedial course in constitutional law,” the human rights organisation said.
“We’re concerned about the reported arbitrary arrest by police of some ‘RevolutionNow’ protesters and a journalist.
“The Nigerian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful protesters. We’ll pursue international legal action if they’re not released,” the report by Nigeria’s Channels Television quoted SERAP as saying in their tweet.
According to the SERAP, the situation in Nigeria should not be different from that of Hong Kong and Puerto Rico.
GIK/APA