Amnesty International said a total of fifteen protesters arrested during the 2020 #EndSARS protest are still being detained three years later.
Gatekeepers News reports that the global movement in a statement on its website on Friday, said the majority of the protesters are in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos without trial.
Amnesty further accused the authorities of filing trumped-up charges including theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder against many of the protesters.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi said, “Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities’ utter disdain for human rights. Three years in detention without trial is a travesty of justice. This shows the authorities’ contempt for due process of law. The protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
According to the organisation, seven #EndSARS protesters including Daniel Joy-Igbo, Sodiq Adigun, Sunday Okoro, Olumide Fatai, Oluwole Isa, Shehu Anas, and Akiniran Oyetakin have been arbitrarily held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.
While another eight protesters, Segun Adeniyi, Onuorah Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujomah, Irinyemi Olorunwanbe, Quadri Azeez, Olamide Lekan and Sadiq Riliwan are currently detained without trial in Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos since 2020.
Amnesty said one of those detained, Daniel Joy-Igbo, a Beninois, arrested in Lagos in October 2020, told Amnesty International that he had been detained at the Bar Beach Police Station, the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, and at a SARS facility in Ikeja.
Joy-Igbo said, “Since my arraignment in December 2020, I have been locked up in the prison without trial. Since then, there has been no adjourned date for my case. I have not been taken to court since December 2020.”
Sodiq Adigun, also arrested in October 2020, who was previously detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti said, “Let the government release me. I have been detained since 2020 without trial. I am innocent. My life has been shattered. I need my liberty.”
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