Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has demanded the immediate release of protesters arrested in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the Northern region.
The PUNCH had reported that some Northern youths who were protesting against the rising insecurity in the region were arrested and subsequently detained by the operatives of the FCT police command.
However, in a statement on Thursday personally signed by Falana, he accused the police of breaching the fundamental rights of the protesters by disrupting their demonstration and arresting some of them.
The statement was titled, ‘Release detained protesters against insecurity’.
It read, “Yesterday (Wednesday), some young people participated in a peaceful protest against increasing insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria. In utter breach of the fundamental right of the protesters the Nigeria Police Force violently disrupted the rally and arrested some of the participants.
“In stopping the peaceful rally the police violated the fundamental right of the unarmed protesters and others who were earlier arrested in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto by the Police and the State Security Service.
“By abruptly stopping the protests, the security forces breached section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act which requires the police to provide adequate security for citizens who participate in peaceful meetings and rallies.”
Falana reminded the police authorities that on November 20, 2014, the leaders of the All Progressive Congress led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) took part in a protest against insecurity under then President Goodluck Jonathan without any harassment whatsoever.
He, however, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained protesters.
Copyright PUNCH.
