Amnesty International has condemned the reported display of a rifle at a campaign rally involving opposition politician Aminu Warkal in Jan Bulo, Kano State, warning that such conduct could heighten the risk of violence and endanger lives during the campaign season.
The human rights organisation urged Warkal’s political party to publicly distance itself from the incident, describing the alleged display as a lawless act that could encourage violence.
Amnesty International also called on Nigeria’s security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that any politician found to have incited violence, directly or indirectly, is held accountable in accordance with the law.
The organisation stressed the responsibility of the Nigerian authorities to protect citizens from violence while safeguarding fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association throughout the ongoing campaign period.
Amnesty International further reminded the Nigerian government of its obligations under international human rights law to respect and protect fundamental rights and to take effective measures to combat impunity.
It said adherence to these obligations was essential to ensuring that political activities were conducted peacefully and that citizens could participate in the democratic process without fear of violence or intimidation.
