The Department of State Services (DSS) has released six protesters involved in the #Hunger and #EndBadGovernance demonstrations in Kaduna State. These protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, were sparked by the ongoing economic hardships faced by many Nigerians.
According to human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), security forces arrested a total of 2,111 individuals during the protests. Sources within the DSS confirmed that the six released protesters were cleared after investigations, while three others will be arraigned in court.
On September 19, 2024, the DSS Director-General ordered the release of those arrested for their roles in the protests, stating a commitment to uphold the agency’s mandate by investigating and addressing any unlawful activities linked to the demonstrations.
The police previously arraigned ten activists on September 2, including a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich. They face charges including treason and conspiring to destabilize the country, stemming from activities between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, highlighted that the protesters were accused of inciting mutiny and attacking law enforcement, along with damaging several government properties.
While the DSS has not provided further comments, the case continues to raise concerns about the treatment of protesters in Nigeria.
