Abuja, Nigeria – The Edo State Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights has strongly condemned the deployment of tear gas by police agents against unarmed protesters during the October 20 #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration, and has demanded the immediate resignation of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator-General, Marxist Kola Edokpayi, and Secretary-General, Comrade Aghatise Raphael, the coalition praised human rights activist Omoyele Sowore for what it called “indomitable courage” in leading the protest. They accused the Nigeria Police Force of executing a “state-orchestrated brutality” reminiscent of Nigeria’s dark military years, and of violating constitutional guarantees of free assembly and association.
The group cited Section 40 of the Constitution, which ensures the right to peaceful assembly, and Section 5 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, which mandates police officers to protect fundamental rights. They argued that security forces, under the direction of the IGP, had flagrantly failed these legal duties.
Further, the coalition called for the unconditional release of all those arrested during the protest, including Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer, and Fine Boy Kanu, his younger brother.
They also appealed to the international community and rights organisations to “raise their collective voices” against what they termed repression of civic dissent in Nigeria.