The Federal Government, weekend, released six #EndBadGovernance protesters out of the over 1,403 arrested and detained nationwide.
Recall that a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had, recently, granted an impossible bail of N10 million each to 10 of the protesters arraigned before the court on treason-related charges.
The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, were sparked by the worsening economic crisis, hunger and demands for good governance. However, security agencies had used excessive force, leading to casualties and arrests.
This came as some lawyers criticised the Federal Government’s ‘repressive’ tactics against demonstrators in response to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
They argued that charges of treasonable felony and sedition against protesters were unfounded and aimed at intimidating citizens.
Also, Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, weekend, expressed concern on the silence of the Federal Government over the demands of the #EndBadGovernance protesters.
According to competent security sources, the six persons were freed, last Thursday, in Kaduna State, on the orders of the Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Adeola Ajayi.
The DSS also said that three of the protesters would be arraigned in court.
“The top source, yesterday, told Vanguard: “The DG DSS is not interested in the incarceration of innocent citizens for expressing their constitutional rights, but is also not going to allow criminal elements take laws into their hands.
“There is incontrovertible evidence to press criminal charges against the three persons that are being held because we have a prima facie evidence against them.
“The DG DSS reiterates citizen’s right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the constitution and regard for the rule of law.
“However, he is resolute on upholding the mandate of the service to decisively investigate and bring to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime,” the source added.