There are over 1,400 protesters, Nigerian youths who participated in the 10-day #Endbadgovernance protests, languishing in Police custody across the country.
“Many of the protesters in Abuja are (being held) in the Intelligence Response Team, IRT; Bombai in Kano, and Kaduna Police commands, and other parts of the country.”
One of the lawyers to the #Endbadgovernance protesters, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, revealed this to Vanguard.
He also said they were fed once a day.
“For now, the majority of the protesters feed once a day from what we have heard. This is just a local arrangement with the Police.”
Also, he said the Police have refused to arraign the protesters before a Federal High Court in Abuja, which was postponed from Monday to yesterday.
Adeyanju said: “We told them (the Police) to avail us the charge on Monday, which they said they would but they didn’t.
“We told them to avail us of the charge today (yesterday, Tuesday), but they have refused. Can protesting be an offence?”
Over 1,400 held nationwide
On the number of protesters held in Police custody, he said: “We do not have a specific number. But we have no fewer than 1,400 protesters, who were arrested nationwide in detention.
“In Abuja, we are aware that no fewer than 50 people were arrested. We were able to secure the release of 27 people and it is assumed that 30 or more people are in custody.
“Many of the protesters in Abuja are in the Intelligence Response Team, IRT. (Others are in) Bombai in Kano, and Kaduna Police commands, and other parts of the country.
“Some family members have seen their relations in police custody. Three days ago, some of the family members were allowed to see the protesters.
“And even today (yesterday, Tuesday), when we were at IRT in Abuja, we saw some of the family members of the protesters at the facility.
“Before people are allowed to see the protesters, they have to get several clearances. They did not allow lawyers to have access to the protesters.
Meanwhile, among the protesters the Nigerian government has failed to arraign are three activists involved in the protest. They are Adaramoye Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq and Eleojo Opaluwa.
This is despite holding them in detention for two weeks.
Civil society organisations, CSOs, have accused the Federal Government of playing a game of suppression on the protesters and a violation of their rights
The activists were detained under orders from National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
No charges have been filed against the trio, prompting the government to postpone their arraignment to August 23.
‘Let’s hope they’re still alive and well’
Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education CHRICED, expressed concern over the detainees’ well-being.
Speaking to Vanguard, he said: “We hope that a good number of the detained protesters are still alive.
“If they are, we wonder why the government is delaying their day in court. These are citizens of Nigeria.
“The situation the government has created enabled their protest. People said they are hungry and took to the streets to protest. What is difficult about that?
“Of course, we know that in this country, if you’re not a politician, the child of a top security chief, or a wealthy individual, you are treated as a nobody, and that’s why our laws seem lopsided in dealing with consequences.”
For Deji Adeyanju, “The reason they do not want to arraign the protesters is because they know that protesting is not a crime.
“They just want to perpetually keep the protesters in custody unjustly, and this action stands condemned.”
(Vanguard)
