The group which condemned in strongest terms, what it described as the continuous persecution of the #EndBadGovernance protesters in Katsina State by Governor Radda and the state Commissioner of Police, said that the detained protesters have appeared in court four times without trial.
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) has asked the Katsina State governor, Dikko Umar Radda and the state Commissioner of Police to immediately release all the detained #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters and drop the charges against them.
The YRC made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Secretary, Francis Nwapa.
The group which condemned in strongest terms, what it described as the continuous persecution of the #EndBadGovernance protesters in Katsina State by Governor Radda and the state Commissioner of Police, said that the detained protesters have appeared in court four times without trial.
Nwapa in the statement said that the Governor and the police have continued to use the judiciary to continue an unending adjournment of the protesters’ case without trial.
He stated, “Gaddafi Musa was invited by the DPO of CPS Police Station in Funtua Local Government Area on the 2nd of August 2024 which he honoured and was immediately detained.
“He was thereafter transferred to DSS custody in the capital where he met seven other #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protesters, Kabir Shehu Yandaki and Habibu Mukhtar Ruma who both reside in Katsina State Central alongside Shuaibu Ibrahim, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Muhammad Umar, Kabir Umar and Yahaya Adamu who came all the way from Dutsen-wa Local Government to honour the DSS invitation.
“These 8 Katsina State protest mobilisers were kept at the DSS detention facility for 4 days and later transferred to the State Criminal investigation Department where they spent another 4 days before being arraigned
“Before the Chief Magistrate Court 1 on four count charge, Criminal Conspiracy, Inciting Disturbance, Rioting, Brigandage
“And were thereafter remanded in prison where they spent between 22-45 days incarcerated.”
Nwapa said they also met over 80 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters arrested in various parts of Katsina State and dumped in the prison.
According to him, their lawyers have been able to secure bail for some of them but those who have not been able to meet their bail condition are still languishing in prison, one of whom he identified as Umar Mohammed.
Nwapa said, “Those who were able to meet the bail condition and regained freedom were threatened by the Government and Police not to participate in the October 1st protest or their bail would be revoked and they would return to prison.
“The hearing for this matter came up today 10th December 2024, and it was again adjourned to February 27th 2025.
“Most of these protesters come from a far distance to the State capital and have to beg for transportation to attend each hearing.”
On the stance of the YRC, Nwapa said, “We condemn this use of state apparatus to persecute innocent Nigerians demanding good governance.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of all charges against these protesters and the unconditional release of all still in detention.
“We demand an end to intimidation, harassment and clampdown on Nigerians who wish to protest against bad governance.
“We call for a United struggle of young people and workers against the anti-poor capitalist regime and policies of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”