Amnesty International Nigeria has strongly condemned the mass trial of #EndBadGovernance protesters, set to commence today in Abuja, Kano, and Kaduna. The protesters, arrested during the hunger and hardship demonstrations in August 2024, now face charges in what AI has called a “sham trial.”

In a statement posted on its X platform on Monday, Amnesty International criticized the trial, asserting that it is an unjust attempt to suppress the right to peaceful protest. “Amnesty International condemns the sham trial of the protesters even before it began and calls for an end to these endless bizarre attempts to deprive people of the right to peaceful protest. The unfair trial is only a disguised exercise solely aimed at punishing dissenters,” the statement read.

AI further highlighted the severity of the charges being brought against the protesters, including treason—a charge that carries the death penalty—and accusations of plotting to destabilize Nigeria. The organization criticized these charges as a manipulation of the criminal justice system to silence dissent.

Moreover, Amnesty International expressed concern over the Nigerian government’s focus on punishing protesters while failing to address the urgent need for an impartial investigation into the deaths of numerous protesters across Kano, Katsina, Suleja/Tafa, Jigawa, and Maiduguri.

The organization condemned the actions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that charging individuals who protested against widespread poverty and corruption with treason is “absurd and baseless.”