Amnesty International has strongly condemned what it described as a “reckless attack” on peaceful protesters during a Democracy Day demonstration held at Unity Fountain, Abuja, in which human rights activist Omoyele Sowore reportedly collapsed and was later taken to a hospital.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the rights organisation said Sowore appeared to have been deliberately targeted and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, describing such actions against activists as unlawful and a violation of fundamental human rights.
According to Amnesty International, the alleged assault on protesters reflects a broader pattern of restrictions on civic space and the use of force against individuals exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The organisation argued that the Nigerian authorities were increasingly resorting to violence to suppress dissent, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law and constitutional protections guaranteed to citizens.
It stressed that Nigerians must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest without intimidation, harassment or the use of excessive force by security agencies.
Amnesty International further criticised the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, alleging a failure to demonstrate sufficient commitment to upholding both domestic constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations.
The organisation maintained that respect for freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly remained central to democratic governance and urged authorities to ensure accountability for any abuses linked to the incident.
