Amnesty International on Tuesday cautioned the Federal Government against threatening Nigerians planning to protest against the current hardship and hunger in the country.
The organization in a post on X reacting to comments made by a presidential aide, Olusegun Dada, warned that threatening intended peaceful protesters is unlawful.
Dada had warned that intending destruction of the country in the guise of protest would meet the strongest resistance.
“Those who want to burn the country down under whatever guise will meet the strongest resistance of their lives. Not from security agencies, but from the silent majority that gave their mandate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for four years in the first instance. We are waiting,” he posted on X on Tuesday.
However, reacting, AI stated Nigerians have the constitutional right to protest.
“Threatening peaceful protesters is unlawful. It is a clear attack on freedom of assembly — which is guaranteed by international law and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution:
“Nigerians must not be denied the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to peaceful protest; through veiled threats of violence and false insinuations,” the post read.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians who plan to stage nationwide to shelve the plan.