Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the service chiefs and military commanders of Nigeria’s armed forces.
This he made known in a post on X, where he warned that those who authorise the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters would be held accountable for committing crimes against humanity, even after they retire from service.
This statement comes in the wake of reports of killings and assaults on #EndBadGovernmentprotesters, who have been rallying against perceived governmental failures and injustices.
Atiku emphasised that the constitutional right to peaceful protest is firmly enshrined in Nigeria’s supreme law and reinforced by the judiciary.
The constitutional right to protest is firmly established within our supreme law and reinforced by the judiciary. It is the solemn duty of the government and security agencies to ensure a safe and protected environment for individuals exercising their right to peaceful protest, Atiku stated.
He stressed that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic principle that must be upheld and protected by all arms of government.
The #EndBadGovernance protest started on August 1 and has continued across states in Nigeria.
The protests come in response to rising food prices and essential commodities as Nigerians grapple with one of the worst inflation rates and economic crises in recent memory.
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