Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of Nubari Saatah, the leader of the Niger Delta Congress (NDC), in connection with a planned peaceful protest against the politically motivated imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Speaking on Wednesday, Amnesty International stated that the arrest of Saatah on Tuesday, along with a police summons for Mudiaga Ogboru, the NDC national spokesperson, is unlawful and showcases the Bola Tinubu government’s blatant disregard for the right to peaceful protest.
The organization urged Nigerian authorities to stop their repressive actions against activists and to begin listening to their critics. The government must refrain from using security forces to deny people their right to peaceful protest and should address the genuine grievances of the populace.
The Nigeria Police Force detained Saatah over a planned protest against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. He was arrested in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
Sources indicate that the police had initially invited the NDC spokesperson, Mudiaga Ogboru, due to his vocal opposition to the emergency rule and his call for protests. However, rather than awaiting Ogboru, authorities moved to arrest the NDC President.
Confirming the situation, Ogboru stated that he received invitations from both the Lagos and Rivers State Police Commands regarding the planned protest.
Activists and civil rights groups have condemned the arrest, calling it an attempt to stifle opposition and suppress voices that are critical of Tinubu’s controversial emergency rule in Rivers State.
