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We Will Not Tolerate Inhuman Treatment Of June 12 Protesters— Human Rights Group

The human rights group stated that it is the fundamental human right of citizens to protest against maladministration in Nigeria.

Civil Society Consortium on Civic Space says any attempt by the Nigerian government to harass or abuse Nigerians planning to protest on Saturday will be restricted.

The human rights group stated that it is the fundamental human right of citizens to protest against maladministration in Nigeria.

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It, then, asked the Nigerian government to warn against abuse by security agents who will like to violate the human rights of people, adding that any case of inhuman treatment of protesters on June 12 will be taken to court to seek redress for the people.

The group revealed this in the statement made available to SaharaReporters on Friday, urging the Nigerian government to play by the rules and security operatives to conduct themselves fairly.

“Nigerians from across the country have widely publicised a #June12Protest to register their displeasure with the way the country has been governed. By this statement, we wish to remind the Nigerian Government and its security services that every citizen has the right to protest, such right is constitutionally guaranteed among other international instruments that have been ratified by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Therefore, the government and its security services must play by the rules and conduct themselves in ways that guarantee the safety and well-being of protesters on the streets. We, therefore, warn that there should be no arbitrary arrests of protesters, no inhuman or degrading treatment should be meted out on any protester either through torture or use of teargas or water cannons.

“We wish to remind the government of Nigeria that the murder of innocent citizens during the #ENDSARS protest in Lekki and the rest of Nigeria is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians and the international community. Therefore, any violation and inhuman treatment that is done on any protesting citizen will be redressed in both local and international courts of justice.

“We also call on friends of Nigeria and the international community to pay close attention to the #June12Protest and help peaceful protester to avert an imminent danger,” the statement read.