Nigerian Police Begin Prosecution Of 1,135 Detained Demonstrators Following 10-Day Protest

Many state police heads have started prosecuting protesters arrested during the 10-day #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria nationwide protest, which took place from Aug. 1 to 10.

The protests, which were mostly peaceful across the country, turned violent in northern Nigeria, resulting in several deaths, the destruction of property worth billions of naira and curfews being imposed in at least five states.

The demonstrators were against the rising cost of living, driven by the removal of fuel subsidies, high inflation at a 28-year peak and government policies that caused the naira to fall sharply against the dollar.

At least 1,135 people arrested during the protest will be taken to court starting Monday, as per Punch.

On Sunday, the Yobe State Command announced it would bring 108 people to court. These individuals were arrested for various offences including breaking the curfew. The Police Public Relations Officer for Yobe DSP Dungus Abdulkarim said the suspects would face charges related to their alleged actions in the protests. Many of the accused, who were first brought to court on Aug. 8, denied the charges, leading to more legal proceedings on Monday.

In Kano, 632 people were arrested for allegedly destroying property during the protest. They have been held by a Kano State Mobile Court since last Tuesday, and are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 19.

During the protests, several public and private facilities were vandalized and looted, including the Kano State Printing Press, the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Kano State High Court and several parked vehicles.

In Kaduna, the police announced that 25 protesters arrested on the first day of the protest, who have been held in a correctional center, will be charged in court. They will be joined by 39 others, including a tailor who allegedly made a Russian flag, once investigations are completed this week.

The police public relations officer ASP Mansir Hassan said the protesters were quickly taken to court after their arrest. Furthermore, the Bauchi State Police Command confirmed that over 50 protesters were arrested in their state. Many other state police heads also disclosed that trials have started.

Last week, Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa revealed that the military and security agencies were targeting those calling for an undemocratic change of government during the nationwide protest.