Amnesty International has strongly condemned the violent attack on campaign convoys of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, describing it as a brutal campaign of repression against the opposition.
In a release posted on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the global rights organisation said footages it analysed show armed gangs carrying weapons, attacking vehicles in the convoys, striking people with cutlasses and blocking roads.
“What happened today is clearly a danger to the rights of opposition political parties to hold their activities freely,” Amnesty said.
Apart from direct attacks with knives and machetes, Amnesty said the hoodlums suspected to be sponsored pelted vehicles with stones and targeted members of the media crew following the campaign.
Cameras and other gadgets of media teams were destroyed in a clear aim at targeting journalists covering the campaign activities.
Amnesty said the incident in Kebbi, coming days after similar bloody attacks on ADC campaigns in neighbouring Sokoto State, is part of a troubling pattern of brutal attacks targeting opposition members in various parts of the country.
“No one should lose their life or face violence simply for taking part in peaceful political activities,” the organisation said.
The organisation accused Nigerian authorities of failing to ensure accountability for such atrocities that happened in many states, including Niger, Kaduna, Edo and Enugu.
“In all cases investigated by Amnesty International, security agencies failed to do their job of preventing or stopping the attacks to protect the right to freedom of association,” it said.
Amnesty warned that the ongoing political repression targeting opposition parties nationwide undermines democracy and creates a toxic climate of fear and violence.
“Clearly, a brutal campaign of repression against the opposition and its supporters, is making it extremely difficult for them to exercise their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly,” it added.
