Amnesty International has reported that fifteen protesters arrested during the #EndSars protest of 2020 are still being unlawfully detained three years later.
According to Amnesty International, the majority of these protestors are still being held in Lagos’ Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre, awaiting trial.
Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed his concern over the situation in a statement on Friday. “Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities’ utter disdain for human rights,” he said.
“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,” he demanded.
Amnesty also accused the authorities of charging many of these demonstrators with false crimes such as theft, arson, possession of illegal arms, and murder.
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The organization identified the protesters detained at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre as Daniel Jou-Igbo, Sodiq Adigun, Sunday Okoro, Olumide Fatai, Oluwole Isa, Shehu Anas and Akiniran Oyetakin.
Daniel Joy-Igbo, one of those held, told Amnesty International that he was detained at several locations, including the Bar Beach Police Station, the Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, and a SARS station in Ikeja.
“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,” he said.
Amnesty International’s report also cited the cases of Segun Adeniyi, Onuorah Odih, Jeremy Lucky, Gideon Ikwujomah, Irinyemi Olorunwanbe, Quadri Azeez, Olamide Lekan and Sadiq Riliwan as the eight other protesters currently detained without trial in the Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre since 2020.
Another detainee, Sodiq Adigun, who was previously detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, pleaded for his release, saying “Let the government release me. I am innocent. My life has been shattered. I need my liberty.”
