LAWYERS ALERT CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND THE ASSAULT ON CIVIC SPACE IN EKPOMA, EDO STATE

Issued by: Lawyers Alert

Lawyers Alert, a Human Rights Defender Organisation and an active member of the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FOPA) Network in Nigeria, strongly condemns the arrest and detention of residents and students following the recent protest in Ekpoma, Edo State. These arrests constitute a grave violation of civic freedoms and represent a dangerous erosion of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which is fundamental to democratic governance.

Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the right of every person to assemble freely and associate with others. This right is further protected under international and regional instruments binding on Nigeria, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Ekpoma protest emerged from growing public frustration over persistent insecurity and the rising incidence of kidnapping in the community—legitimate concerns that require urgent and meaningful government attention. In response to these grievances, residents, including students and community members, mobilised to peacefully express their demands for safety and accountability.

Rather than engaging constructively with the protesters, the authorities reportedly responded with repression, intimidation, and mass arrests. Dozens of individuals were arrested without clear, individualised evidence of criminal conduct, raising serious concerns about arbitrary detention, denial of due process, and the disproportionate use of state power. Such indiscriminate arrests and elements of collective punishment violate established human rights standards and contradict the principles of democratic policing.

The actions of security agencies in Ekpoma reflect a broader and troubling pattern across Nigeria, where peaceful assemblies are increasingly met with force instead of dialogue. This approach continues to shrink civic space, silence dissenting voices, and erode public confidence in democratic institutions, ultimately undermining the very stability and security the state claims to protect.

Security agencies have a legal obligation not only to maintain public order but also to facilitate and protect peaceful assemblies. Failure to uphold this obligation constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights.

Call to Action:

• Immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested solely for participating in the Ekpoma protest.

• Prompt, independent, and transparent investigation into the conduct of security agencies during the protest, including allegations of excessive use of force and unlawful arrests.

• Accountability measures against any officers found to have acted in violation of constitutional and international human rights standards.

• Adoption and implementation of human rights–based policing approaches, particularly in the management of protests and public assemblies.

• Protection and expansion of civic space in Edo State and across Nigeria, ensuring that citizens can exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and association without fear of reprisals.

• Meaningful dialogue and community engagement by government authorities to address insecurity and other socio-economic grievances, rather than resorting to repression.

ABOUT LAWYERS ALERT

Lawyers Alert is a non-partisan human rights organisation headquartered in Makurdi, Benue State, committed to democracy, rule of law and the protection of women and other vulnerable groups. We document human rights violations, provide free legal services, and run community-based security initiatives, including a community policing project in Guma and Katsina-Ala LGAs, some of the areas hardest hit by violence.

SIGNED

Lazarus Ahangba M.

Director, Programmes

Lawyers Alert