The fallout from the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests continues to reverberate across Nigeria. A survey of 11 states found that police arrested at least 1,423 suspected protesters and charged them in court. Many were remanded in prison custody pending trial, often without legal representation or opportunity for bail.
The protests, organized by youth groups to draw attention to the economic downturn and hunger in the country, turned violent in some northern states as hoodlums hijacked the demonstrations. This led to loss of life, destruction of property, and mass arrests of alleged “rioters.”
Hundreds Detained, Awaiting Trial
Kano state saw the highest number of arrests at 832, including 600 alleged rioters, 76 for displaying Russian flags, and others for looting and curfew violations. Sokoto had 110 arrests, with many protesters still languishing in prison after summary hearings before a mobile court.
Other arrest figures include:
– Borno: 97
– Katsina: 90
– Bauchi: 60
– Plateau: 51
– Yobe: 51
– Kaduna: 50
– Nasarawa: 40
– Niger: 23
– Zamfara: 19
Protesters Decry Lack of Due Process
Critics argue that police did not differentiate between peaceful protesters and violent miscreants in their mass arrests. Many of those detained have been remanded for weeks or longer without bail, with some trial dates over a month away.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which had vowed ahead of the protests to provide legal aid to arrested protesters whose rights may have been violated, did not show up in any of the courts in all the states where arraignment took place.
Mr Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN, Chairman, NBA Human Rights Institute and Member, NBA Free Legal Support Team for #EndBadGovernance protesters, however, said the association was intervening on behalf of some protesters in Abuja who were harassed and brutalized at the MKO Abiola Stadium, the venue designated for the protests, by security forces, saying a suit was being filed in court on their behalf.
“The branches of the NBA were mandated to provide legal assistance to anyone arrested or whose human rights were violations during the protest”, Obiagwu told newsmen late last week.
“There were a number of reports from the branches about support provided to diverse range of people. Most of the cases are still going on and so the data have not been collated at the central NBA level.
“In Abuja, some protesters, including women, were molested at the stadium when they came to arrange for the August 10 protests.
“This was the stadium the court designated as the approved place for the protests, yet they were beaten and harassed by law enforcement agents in the same venue.
“So, the NBA Human Rights Institute intervened and some of the molested protesters are filing a suit to challenge the denial of their right to peaceful protests.”
Pro-Russia Sentiment Emerges
Protests in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina featured demonstrators waving Russian flags, suggesting they want Nigeria to turn to Russia for solutions. Those arrested for this have been transferred to Abuja for investigation into potential sedition charges.
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