Amnesty International has condemned the alleged police blockade of the venue of a ‘Tinubu Must Go’ event in Kano, describing the action as an unlawful violation of human rights.
In a statement, the international human rights organisation said heavily armed police officers blocked both ends of the road leading to the venue of the event.
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The organisation called on the Nigeria Police Force to desist from actions it described as reckless violations of citizens’ rights, stressing that supporters of political parties and candidates have the right to organise and participate in peaceful activities.
Amnesty International said the responsibility of the police was to facilitate the peaceful conduct of political gatherings, irrespective of the political party or candidate being supported or opposed.
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It emphasised that freedom of association and peaceful assembly were fundamental rights that should be enjoyed by all citizens, rather than being restricted to members or supporters of a particular political party.
The organisation further alleged that the incident reflected a troubling pattern of police repression targeting opposition members in different parts of the country.
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According to Amnesty International, repeated incidents of intimidation and alleged attacks against opposition supporters could undermine their ability to associate freely and organise public gatherings.
It urged the police to respect and protect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and association, regardless of their political affiliations or opinions.