Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has labelled President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a “sadistic government” in response to the planned arraignment of 75 protesters associated with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement.
The Federal Government is set to bring charges against the protesters, many of whom are minors, before Justice Egwuatu at the Abuja Federal High Court on November 1, 2024.
In a post on X, Sowore expressed his outrage, stating, “The sadistic regime of @officialABAT is set to prosecute 75 individuals affiliated with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement on treason charges… Several of these individuals—several of them minors—have spent 80 days in unjust incarceration before the sham trial is to commence.”
The protests, which took place from August 1 to August 10, aimed to highlight the growing hardship faced by Nigerians.
However, the demonstrations were marred by violence as hoodlums hijacked the movement, leading to clashes that resulted in vandalism and chaos.
Security operatives subsequently arrested several protesters, with Sowore asserting that the government’s actions reflect a broader trend of repression against dissent.
As the court date approaches, concerns continue to mount over the implications of the government’s decision to label these protesters as treasonous and the potential impact on civil liberties in Nigeria.