Several state police commands in Nigeria’s northern region have initiated the prosecution of 1,135 protesters detained during the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide demonstration.
The protests, held from August 1-10, primarily targeted the rising cost of living exacerbated by fuel subsidy removal, record-high inflation, and deteriorating economic conditions.
While southern regions experienced relatively peaceful demonstrations, the northern part saw significant violence, resulting in numerous casualties and extensive property damage. This led to curfews being imposed in at least five states.
In Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, at least 17 people were reported killed, and many more were injured on the first day of the protests.
Amnesty International criticized the security forces for using lethal force and alleged that at least 21 protesters were killed by the police.
Protesters, some of whom displayed the Russian flag, were arrested in Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, and Jigawa. These individuals are now facing prosecution.
Yobe State Command has scheduled the arraignment of 108 suspects arrested for various offenses, including curfew violations. Yobe Police Public Relations Officer DSP Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed that the accused would appear in court on August 12, 2024.
They will have the chance to accept or contest the charges, with summary trials held at the Magistrate Court in Damaturu if they choose to accept.
In Kano, 632 individuals arrested for property destruction will appear in court on August 19. The charges include criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, and arson. Notably, significant property damage was reported, including over N5 billion in losses at Barakat Stores.
In Gombe, 14 out of 111 arrested protesters were released due to health issues and their underage status. The remaining 97 will face court proceedings on August 13 and 15.
Kaduna State will prosecute 25 protesters, including one accused of sewing a Russian flag. Additionally, Bauchi State has arrested over 50 individuals for breaches of law and order, with minors receiving counseling rather than prosecution.
Katsina State has charged 64 protesters, while Niger State’s 23 suspects are awaiting arraignment after further investigation.
In Borno, 97 individuals face charges related to vandalism, theft, and arson, with social media influencers among those arrested for inciting violence.
Human rights activists, including Juwon Sanyaolu of the Take It Back Movement, have condemned the trials, accusing the government of violating freedom of expression and press freedoms. Activists argue that the trials are an attempt to criminalize dissent and predict that such actions will lead to renewed protests.
Omole Ibukun of the Creative Change Centre echoed these sentiments, warning that any attempts to prosecute protesters will likely provoke further unrest.
He attributed the violence during the protests to government repression and argued that such actions are a response to unjust state actions.
The trials of the detained protesters mark a significant development in the aftermath of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, with widespread implications for freedom of expression and civil dissent in Nigeria.
