Amnesty, CITAD condemn Police blockade of ‘Tinubu Must Go’ event in Kano

Amnesty International and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) have condemned the alleged blockade of the venue of a ‘Tinubu Must Go’ event in Kano by heavily armed police officers, describing the action as a violation of citizens’ fundamental human rights.

In separate statements, the two organisations expressed concern over the reported restriction of a political gathering, insisting that citizens have the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression, irrespective of their political affiliations.

Amnesty International alleged that heavily armed police officers blocked both ends of the road leading to the venue, thereby preventing access to the event.

The organisation called on the Nigeria Police Force to desist from actions it described as reckless violations of citizens’ rights, stressing that political parties, candidates and their supporters must be allowed to organise and participate in peaceful activities.

It said the responsibility of the police was to facilitate the peaceful conduct of political gatherings rather than obstruct them because of the political views expressed by organisers.

Amnesty International emphasised that freedom of association and peaceful assembly were fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens and should not be restricted to supporters of particular political parties or candidates.

The organisation further alleged that the incident reflected a troubling pattern of police repression against opposition members in different parts of the country.

It warned that repeated incidents of intimidation and alleged attacks against opposition supporters could undermine their ability to associate freely and organise public gatherings.

Similarly, CITAD strongly condemned the reported police blockade, describing it as a development that raised serious concerns about the protection of fundamental human rights and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to democratic principles.

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The organisation said it was unacceptable for the police to obstruct citizens from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful assembly, association and expression.

According to CITAD, the primary responsibility of the police is to protect citizens, maintain public order and facilitate the peaceful exercise of their rights, rather than intimidate, suppress or obstruct lawful gatherings.

It maintained that the right to peaceful protest should not depend on whether the views being expressed support or oppose the government.

CITAD called on the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other relevant institutions to ensure that security agencies respect the Constitution and refrain from actions that undermine civic freedoms.

The organisation also urged the authorities to investigate the incident, establish accountability where violations were found and issue clear directives against the arbitrary obstruction of peaceful political activities.

It warned that repeated intimidation or restrictions against opposition voices and peaceful protesters could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and shrink the civic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.

CITAD stressed that democracy could not thrive where citizens were prevented from peacefully expressing dissent, urging the government and security agencies to uphold the rule of law and protect the fundamental rights of all Nigerians, regardless of their political opinions.

The organisation reiterated that peaceful dissent was not a crime and that no government or security institution should place itself above the Constitution.