Amnesty International Says Nigerians On Brink Of Starvation, Cautions FG Against Threatening Protesters

Ahead of the planned peaceful protests in Nigeria in August, Amnesty International has expressed concern over increasing hardship in Nigeria, observing that millions of people are on the brink of starvation.

Even as the human rights body urged Nigerian authorities urgently place priority on addressing increasing inequality, corruption, mismanagement and years of utter failure to make people’s well being as the sole focus of governance, it cautioned the government against threatening Nigerians planning to protest.

According to Amnesty International in a post on its X handle, “Millions of people are on the brink of starvation. The Nigerian authorities must urgently place priority on addressing increasing inequality, corruption, mismanagement and years of utter failure to make people’s well being as the sole focus of governance.

“Amnesty International on Tuesday cautioned the Federal Government against threatening Nigerians planning to protest against the current hardship and hunger in the country:

“Amnesty International has been receiving disturbing reports of arrests of youth who printed materials related to protest against widespread hunger and corruption. Some reported receiving threatening phone calls for social media posts on peaceful protest. This is unacceptable.

“People have a right to protest peacefully, and the Nigerian authorities have a duty to respect, facilitate and protect this right. Arrests should not be the priority of the Nigerian authorities at a time millions of people are on the brink of starvation and deep poverty.”