News

390 Charged in Jigawa After Violent Hunger Protest

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 16th, 2024.

390 Charged in Jigawa After Violent Hunger Protest

Protesters

The Jigawa State Police Command announced on Thursday that they have charged 390 of the 400 individuals detained for vandalism and other offenses during a violent hunger protest in Jigawa and several other northern states.

State Police Commissioner A.T. Abdullahi shared the update with reporters in Dutse, stating that the demonstrators were arrested for damaging and looting government and public property. “We detained 400 protesters, and 390 have been charged; the cases of the remaining suspects are still under review,” Abdullahi said.

He detailed that some participants, posing as part of the hunger protest, had targeted and destroyed public and private properties across ten local government areas. Examples include the state government’s fertilizer stores in Babura and Hadeja LGAs.

The affected LGAs where the protests turned violent include Kiyaye, Hadeja, Kazaure, Kaugama, Malammadori, and Gumel. The police have managed to recover some of the stolen items from the suspects.

Abdullahi commended the police force for their dedication and efforts in managing the protest.

In Lagos, where the hardship protests occurred from August 1 to 10, 2024, organizers claimed success despite the government not meeting their demands. Hassan Taiwo, a protest leader, told The PUNCH that 15 people were arrested, but all were released due to the efforts of their pro bono legal team led by Inibehe Effiong.

A statement from Taiwo and other movement leaders, including Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji, Adamma Ukpabi, Seyi Akinde, and Peluola Adewale, praised the protests for reinforcing the right to peaceful assembly and garnering substantial support. They noted that the initial days saw significant disruptions, including closures of schools, government offices, banks, and traffic halts.

They also highlighted that the protest led President Bola Tinubu to address the nation on August 4, 2024, acknowledging the movement’s influence.

However, they expressed concern over the “severely restricted” civic space and the emergence of what they described as a “civilian dictatorship.” The organizers reported attempts to discredit and criminalize their right to assemble.

Throughout the protest, incidents occurred, such as a protester being assaulted by a hoodlum in Ojota, and disturbances at Alausa in Ikeja. Journalists from News Central were also harassed. Lagos Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade has ordered an investigation into these events.

The organizers are now demanding the release of all detainees, including National Coordinator Michael Adaramoye and Musiu Sodiq. They plan to re-evaluate and reorganize in preparation for future protests, promising to keep the public informed about their ongoing efforts to combat bad governance in Nigeria.