A human rights group, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), has urged the Nigerian government to strike out all charges against some of the protesters who were arrested by the security agencies for participating in the #Endbadgovernance protests that took place in August last year.

In a press statement on Monday and signed by the group’s National Secretary, Francis Nwapa, the eleven protesters were named as Adaramoye Micheal Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, Angel Love Innocent, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Eleojo Simon, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu. The statement linked the arrests to the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protests against the high cost of living.

Nigerians took to the streets in August last year to protest against the economic hardship and high cost of food items and relevant commodities. The agitation, which started peacefully, descended into violence, leading to the arrest of some of the protesters, including some minors who have been granted a pardon by the federal government after their presentation in court, as a result of reactions from Nigerians.

However, the eleven protesters who were arrested and detained separately have been charged in court by the Nigerian police on the grounds of treason, mutiny, and terrorism. On September 11th, 2024, the court granted them bail, anticipating the start of their trial on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025.

As a result, the human rights organisation has called on President Bola Tinubu to end the trial against the protesters and strike out all allegations levelled against them, as their offence was only their exercising of freedom of expression against the hardship in the country.

“They engaged in peaceful protests throughout the nation from August 1 to 10, 2024, calling for an end to hunger and hardship.” The statement partially reads, “If there was any truth to the allegations, the regime would not have been able to withdraw the charges against the 114 minors.”

“We urge the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society organisations, youth groups, student unions, non-governmental organisations, professional associations, all human rights groups, and progressive organisations, and people of good conscience to join us in calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do the following:

“Halt the sham trial and withdraw charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, Angel Love Innocent, Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Eleojo Simon, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu, as well as all other peaceful protesters and activists in detention and on trial nationwide.”.

The group also urged the president to ask the Nigerian police to release the gadgets of the affected protesters, despite their release on bail, noting that the seizure of their properties has affected their engagements.

They urged the president to show good faith to Nigerians by first halting the trial against the eleven protesters as well as other activists, journalists, and bloggers who are being persecuted by law enforcement agencies.