In connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests held from August 1 to 10, 2024, a total of 2,111 individuals have been arrested nationwide. Of these, 1,403 have been quietly arraigned in various courts but have been remanded in prison custody due to a lack of legal representation. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has publicly committed to providing legal aid, but delays persist.
Human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, Chair of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), criticized the government’s handling of the situation in a statement titled "HALT THE CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS." He also revealed that seven Polish students participating in an exchange program at Bayero University, Kano, were arrested for photographing the protests. There are concerns that these students might be falsely charged with espionage.
Falana emphasized that the suspects must be given adequate notice before their court appearances to enable them to secure legal representation and inform their families. He highlighted disparities in the treatment of protesters versus politically exposed individuals involved in alleged corruption, noting that high-profile suspects are often granted bail and allowed to travel abroad, whereas protesters face harsh conditions.
A breakdown of arrests by state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is as follows:
- Kano: 873
- Jigawa: 403
- Katsina: 120
- Gombe: 111
- Sokoto: 110
- Borno: 99
-Yobe: 90
- Bauchi: 60
- Plateau: 51
- Kaduna: 50
- FCT: 50
- Nasarawa: 40
-Niger: 25
- Zamfara: 19
- Cross Rivers: 10
Falana criticized the authorities for not informing lawyers who applied for bail about court dates and described the denial of legal representation as a breach of constitutional and human rights. He also noted that some of the arrested individuals in Kano are accused of displaying a Russian flag during the protests, raising concerns about the charges being politically motivated.
