Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Wednesday condemned reported violent attacks and arrest of #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja and other parts of the country.
The organization, in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the Federal Government to end the use of excessive force against protesters and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had on Wednesday morning arrested the co-convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Olawale Bakare, and six other protesters wearing orange-coloured caps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State capital.
Several protesters were also arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in Abuja.
SERAP said: “By failing to adequately protect protesters from violent attacks, Nigerian authorities have blatantly violated their obligations under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Nobody should be arrested or subjected to torture and ill-treatment simply for taking part in peaceful protests. The authorities should stop criminalising peaceful protesters.
