11 protesters arrested in Yobe from their homes as Nigerian police crack down on #endbadgovernance
On Saturday morning, at least 11 youths and residents in Yobe State were arrested as Nigerian police began their crackdown on the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. The arrests occurred at their homes in Damaturu, Potiskum, and Gashua.
Those detained were seen as leading voices in the ongoing nationwide protest. The police action in Damaturu and Potiskum appears to target individuals outspoken about the economic hardships in the state. The 11 youths from Gashua have been moved to the state police CID in Damaturu. The situation has raised concerns that the crackdown may widen to target all participants in the peaceful protests.
In a related development, Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of Umar Danjani, a protester detained in Jigawa State. Danjani was arrested on Thursday by Nigerian police while participating in the protests. He was later brought before a court to secure a remand order for Birnin Kudi prison. Amnesty International condemned the detention, calling it unlawful and a form of intimidation against critical voices.