Rights Advocate Condemns Alleged Assault on Women Protesters In Kwara

A rights advocate, Dr. Bilkisu Oniyangi, has condemned the alleged assault and public flogging of women during a peaceful protest at the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin. She described the incident as a grave violation of constitutional and human rights. In an open letter, Dr. Oniyangi described the events as deeply disturbing. She said the […]

A rights advocate, Dr. Bilkisu Oniyangi, has condemned the alleged assault and public flogging of women during a peaceful protest at the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin.

She described the incident as a grave violation of constitutional and human rights.

In an open letter, Dr. Oniyangi described the events as deeply disturbing.

She said the protest was peaceful and lawful, with participants exercising their constitutional rights to demand urgent government action against persistent banditry and kidnapping affecting communities across the state.

“Rather than being protected, the protesters were allegedly subjected to harassment and violence,” she noted.

Dr. Oniyangi expressed concern that no uniformed security personnel were seen in the footage committing the assault.

Instead, she said that the individuals involved appeared to be political loyalists or civilian thugs operating openly within the Government House vicinity.

She said the development raised questions about state responsibility, oversight failures, and possible complicity by omission.

Citing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she noted that Section 40 guarantees the right to peaceful assembly while Section 34(1) protects the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture or degrading treatment.

She described the public flogging of women as a gross violation of these provisions.

Her letter also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protects freedom of assembly, bodily integrity, and freedom from violence.

Dr. Oniyangi argued that the state bears responsibility not only for violations it directly commits, but also for those it fails to prevent or punish.

“Beyond legal considerations, the incident was a moral failure, particularly in Ilorin, a city known for its Islamic heritage,” she said.

Quoting the Qur’an, 4:19, she emphasised that Islam condemns the abuse and humiliation of women, adding that there is no religious, cultural, or legal justification for such acts.

She demanded an immediate public acknowledgment and condemnation of the incident by the authorities, identification and prosecution of all individuals involved, a transparent explanation of how non-state actors were able to operate within a government security perimeter, and clear guarantees that peaceful protests will be protected in the future.

Dr. Oniyangi warned that failure to act could amount to institutional complicity.

She called on human rights organisations, civil society groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, women’s rights advocates, and international bodies to intervene.

“Citizens demanding protection from kidnapping are not criminals. Peaceful protest is not subversion. Violence against women is never lawful,” the letter stated, stressing that justice requires accountability and urgent action.