In a recent statement, human rights lawyer Femi Falana revealed that 2,111 protesters were arrested during the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria from August 1st to 10th. Out of those arrested, 1,403 have been sent to prison because they lack legal representation.

Falana criticized the government’s actions, emphasizing that all suspects should be given time to reach out to lawyers and their families before being charged in court. He also pointed out that the Nigerian Bar Association has stepped forward to offer legal assistance to the protesters.

In one striking case, seven Polish students were arrested in Kano for simply taking photos during the protests. There are even concerns that they may be accused of espionage to suggest that foreign groups were involved in organizing the protests.

Falana also questioned the charges against 783 protesters in Kano, who were arrested for displaying a Russian flag, highlighting the absurdity of the situation when flags from other nations are commonly displayed by hotels and churches in Nigeria.

Falana stressed that denying the protesters access to lawyers is a clear violation of their right to a fair hearing, as protected by both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights laws.