Ten Nigerian protesters have been charged with treason and other serious offenses at the Federal High Court in Abuja following last month’s nationwide protests. The demonstrations, dubbed ’10 days of rage,’ were sparked by widespread economic hardship and turned violent in several areas, resulting in multiple deaths and hundreds of arrests. The accused have pleaded not guilty to charges including the destruction of public property and assaulting police officers.
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, saw thousands of Nigerians taking to the streets, demanding better governance and an end to economic woes. Slogans such as “we are hungry” and “end bad governance” echoed through major cities, as frustrations over soaring inflation and food prices reached a boiling point. The government imposed curfews in some regions, claiming the protests had been hijacked by thugs.
The ten protesters facing trial are accused of collaborating with a British citizen to destabilize the Nigerian government by calling for a military takeover. The charges have drawn criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International condemning the legal proceedings as a “sham” and calling for an investigation into the deaths that occurred during the protests.
As the trial continues, tensions remain high in Nigeria, where citizens are grappling with the worst economic crisis in a generation. The outcome of the case will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for how the government handles future dissent.