A global rights group, Amnesty International, has faulted the Police for firing a teargas canister at RevolutionNow converner, Omoyele Sowore, during a protest in Abuja.
Recall that the former presidential candidate was injured by the canister fired by a police operative in Abuja and rushed to the hospital.
In reaction, Amnesty International noted that protesters deserve to be listened to, not shot at.
The human rights group also asked the Federal Government to investigate the incident.
“Amnesty International received disturbing reports that activist Omoyele Sowore was shot by the police, during a protest against rampant insecurity in Abuja. Protesters deserved to be listened to, not shot at.
“We call on the Nigerian authorities to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice,” the organisation tweeted.
Similarly, Joe Okei Odumakin, who is still mourning the death of her husband, Yinka Odumakin, described the act of the police as unacceptable.
“Nigeria is a democratic republic country under law and not a dictatorship or banana republic,” she said.
“Freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement are some of the fundamental human rights granted to Nigerian citizens by the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The widely-expressed flaws of this Constitution notwithstanding, it still charges journalists to hold the government accountable to the people”.
She however demanded prompt and effective treatment of Mr Sowore and any of his colleagues wounded in the unprovoked assault by the police.
