Police Breached Right Of Detained #NorthIsBleeding Protesters — Falana SAN

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of protesters arrested in the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the North under the #Northisbleeding movement.

In a statement personally signed by Falana on Thursday, he accused the police of breaching the fundamental rights of the protesters by disrupting their demonstration and arresting some of them.

The statement was titled, ‘Release detained protesters against insecurity’.

It read in part, “Yesterday (Wednesday), some young people participated in a peaceful protest against increasing insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria. In utter breach of the fundamental right of the protesters, the Nigeria Police Force violently disrupted the rally and arrested some of the participants.

“In stopping the peaceful rally, the police violated the fundamental right of the unarmed protesters and others, who were earlier arrested in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto by the police and the State Security Service.

“By abruptly stopping the protests, the security forces breached Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act, which requires the police to provide adequate security for citizens, who participate in peaceful meetings and rallies.”

Falana reminded the police authorities that on November 20, 2014, the leaders of the All Progressive Congress led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), took part in a protest against insecurity under President Goodluck Jonathan without any harassment whatsoever.

The lawyer demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained protesters.

Recall that some northern youths, who were protesting against the rising insecurity in the region, were arrested and subsequently detained by personnel of the FCT Police Command.