Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement strongly condemning the Nigerian government’s decision to charge protestors with treason, a crime that can be punishable by death under Nigerian law. Last month, amid the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, 124 people were arrested, with 10 facing treason charges.
HRW Nigeria Researcher Anietie Ewang criticized the authorities, stating that “by charging protesters with treason, the Nigerian authorities are sending a troubling message about their intolerance for dissent.” Ewang added, “In their relentless effort to suppress dissent, the Nigerian authorities are not only violating more rights and the rule of law, but also deepening public distrust in the government.”
The 10 individuals accused of treason appeared in court on September 2 at the Abuja Federal High Court. Charges against them include attempting to destabilize Nigeria, seeking to remove the president, waging war against the government, and inciting mutiny. According to Section 37 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, the charge of treason could result in the death penalty. A bail hearing is set for September 11.
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, marked by wide-scale protests due to economic hardships, prompted severe government response. Over its ten-day duration starting August 1, approximately 21 deaths were reported, largely due to the police crackdown. These events have garnered extensive criticism from international human rights organizations, citing Article 40 of the Nigerian Constitution which asserts the fundamental right of every person to freely assemble.
Amidst this crackdown, a new movement, #FearlessInOctober, has been catching momentum on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This movement signifies a possible resurgence of public dissent against the government despite the stringent measures taken to suppress the previous protests.
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