Dozens of alleged protesters faced a Nigerian court on Friday, provoking outrage as many appeared malnourished after two months in detention.
Four young defendants, arrested during significant anti-government protests in August, collapsed in the courtroom, writhing in pain before being taken for medical assistance.
Human rights activists criticized the justice system, noting that at least one-third of those present were boys aged 14 to 18. All 76 defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, felony, and inciting mutiny.
Activists reported that the defendants had been in custody since August, following protests sparked by a worsening cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria. Some demonstrations turned violent, resulting in at least seven confirmed deaths, with rights groups estimating the toll to be 23, along with nearly 700 arrests.
In response to the dramatic court session in Abuja, Amnesty International stated, “Subjecting minors to these horrific detentions for protesting against hunger and corruption represents one of the deadliest efforts to stifle freedom of assembly.”
The Nigerian rights group Enough is Enough condemned the situation as “institutional child abuse,” urging, “These teenagers belong in school, not prison. Release them now.”
Some of the defendants faced charges for waving Russian flags during the protests, with video footage showing a few calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance.
Two months prior, ten other suspects had appeared in court on similar charges, accused of conspiring with a British citizen to destabilize Nigeria by urging the military to take over from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All pleaded not guilty.
In total, 114 individuals arrested during the protests have been charged with treason. A judge granted bail of 10 million naira ($6,000; £4,700) to each defendant.
Nigeria is currently grappling with its worst economic crisis in a generation, with annual inflation exceeding 30% and soaring food prices.
