In a recent statement on its website, Amnesty International has revealed that a total of fifteen protesters who were arrested during the #EndSARS protests in 2020 are still being held in arbitrary detention three years later.
The majority of these protesters are currently incarcerated in the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and the Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos, and they have not been given the opportunity for a fair trial.
Amnesty International has accused the authorities of levying unfounded charges, such as theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder, against many of these protesters.
Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed concern, saying, “Our investigation shows the Nigerian authorities’ utter disdain for human rights.
Three years in detention without trial is a travesty of justice.
This shows the authorities’ contempt for due process of law. The protesters must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
The detained protesters include Daniel Joy-Igbo, Sodiq Adigun, Sunday Okoro, Olumide Fatai, Oluwole Isa, Shehu Anas, and Akiniran Oyetakin, who are held in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre.
Another eight protesters, Segun Adeniyi, Onuorah Odih, Jeremiah Lucky, Gideon Ikwujomah, Irinyemi Olorunwanbe, Quadri Azeez, Olamide Lekan, and Sadiq Riliwan, are reportedly detained without trial in Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos since 2020.
One of the detainees, Daniel Joy-Igbo, a Beninois national arrested in Lagos in October 2020, disclosed that he had been detained at various facilities, including the Bar Beach Police Station, the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, and a SARS facility in Ikeja.
Despite being arraigned in December 2020, he has not been taken to court since then.
Sodiq Adigun, another protester arrested in October 2020, who was previously held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, has pleaded for his release, emphasizing that he has been detained without trial since 2020, asserting his innocence, and highlighting the severe impact on his life.