Inside Edo
Human rights group reminds citizens, police: 'Peaceful protest is a protected constitutional right'
Written By: Editor
28 Nov 2025 11:49 AM
Benin, Edo – The Association of Humble Men And Women For Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), widely known as the Bail is Free Campaign Organisation, has issued a strong public statement reaffirming that peaceful protest remains a fundamental and legally protected right under Nigerian law.
In a detailed press release signed by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Mike M. Onojovwo, the organisation cited multiple constitutional and international provisions that guarantee citizens the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
Key provisions highlighted include:
Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to hold and impart ideas without interference.
Section 40, which explicitly grants every person the right to “assemble freely and associate with other persons.”
Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (domesticated into Nigerian law via Cap A9, LFN 2004), which reinforces the right to free assembly.
Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly Article 21 on peaceful assembly.
The group also referenced consistent judicial precedents in Nigeria that have ruled against arbitrary police bans on peaceful protests, stressing that while law enforcement may regulate demonstrations for public safety, they cannot prohibit them outright.
Addressing law enforcement agencies directly, AHMWFES urged the Nigeria Police Force to “provide security to protesters” and ensure demonstrations remain non-violent, rather than interfering when protests are peaceful.
The statement questioned whether undue police interference in peaceful gatherings is compatible with democratic governance.
“Police interference when protests are peaceful raises the question of whether we are still in a democratic government,” the release stated, calling on officers to “work within the confines of the law.”
The statement comes amid ongoing public concerns over the handling of protests in Nigeria and renewed civil society efforts to educate citizens about their constitutional rights.
The Bail is Free Campaign Organisation has positioned itself as a vocal defender of civil liberties, rule of law, and democratic freedoms in the country.
No official response has yet been issued by the Nigeria Police Force to the group’s statement as at the time of filing this report.
Recall DAILY South Nigeria reported that the Edo State Police Command warned against road blockages and highway obstructions under the guise of public demonstrations.
The command highlighted that while the Nigerian Constitution, under Section 40, guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, this right is not absolute and must adhere to legal frameworks and established protocols.
The Command pointed out that recent incidents of road blocks, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian movement, disrupting commerce, and undermining public peace constitute criminal offenses and infringement on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
In a detailed press release signed by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Mike M. Onojovwo, the organisation cited multiple constitutional and international provisions that guarantee citizens the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
Key provisions highlighted include:
Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to hold and impart ideas without interference.
Section 40, which explicitly grants every person the right to “assemble freely and associate with other persons.”
Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (domesticated into Nigerian law via Cap A9, LFN 2004), which reinforces the right to free assembly.
Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly Article 21 on peaceful assembly.
The group also referenced consistent judicial precedents in Nigeria that have ruled against arbitrary police bans on peaceful protests, stressing that while law enforcement may regulate demonstrations for public safety, they cannot prohibit them outright.
Addressing law enforcement agencies directly, AHMWFES urged the Nigeria Police Force to “provide security to protesters” and ensure demonstrations remain non-violent, rather than interfering when protests are peaceful.
The statement questioned whether undue police interference in peaceful gatherings is compatible with democratic governance.
“Police interference when protests are peaceful raises the question of whether we are still in a democratic government,” the release stated, calling on officers to “work within the confines of the law.”
The statement comes amid ongoing public concerns over the handling of protests in Nigeria and renewed civil society efforts to educate citizens about their constitutional rights.
The Bail is Free Campaign Organisation has positioned itself as a vocal defender of civil liberties, rule of law, and democratic freedoms in the country.
No official response has yet been issued by the Nigeria Police Force to the group’s statement as at the time of filing this report.
Recall DAILY South Nigeria reported that the Edo State Police Command warned against road blockages and highway obstructions under the guise of public demonstrations.
The command highlighted that while the Nigerian Constitution, under Section 40, guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, this right is not absolute and must adhere to legal frameworks and established protocols.
The Command pointed out that recent incidents of road blocks, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian movement, disrupting commerce, and undermining public peace constitute criminal offenses and infringement on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
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