- One hundred and twenty-four protesters are in prison custody in the federal capital territory (FCT).
- Ten of the 124 persons in custody took their plea on Monday before a federal high court in Abuja.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused the federal government of being more concerned with silencing protesters than tackling the country’s worsening security crisis.
Abubakar expressed outrage over the recent terrorist attack in Yobe state, which occurred on Sunday.
According to reports, the attack was carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, who raided Mafa village in Tarmuwa LGA, leaving a trail of destruction and death.
The Yobe police spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people and distributed Arabic-language flyers.
A counter-insurgency publication provided further details, revealing that the attack took place during evening prayers, resulting in 34 fatalities and the planting of explosives along the village path.
On Tuesday, state officials attended a mass burial ceremony at Babbangida General Hospital, where 34 victims were laid to rest.
The protest, which took place from August 1 to 10, demanded government reforms, fuel subsidy reinstatement, food security, and fiscal discipline.
However, the demonstration turned violent in some areas, leading to looting and vandalism.
The police arrested and detained alleged perpetrators for 60 days pending investigation, with 124 protesters currently in custody in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ten protesters have pleaded not guilty to charges including treason and inciting mutiny in a federal high court.
However, Abubakar, while reacting to these developments, said the federal government is preoccupying itself with stifling dissent, imposing death sentences on protesters amidst grave challenges.
Abubakar said the “atrocity in Yobe is a stark testament to the failure of the current security framework, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform.”
” Despite the tragic bloodshed in Yobe, which has claimed scores of lives, and the rampant destruction across numerous villages in Katsina, Sokoto, and other towns within the North-West and North-Central regions, the government seems to remain detached, engrossed in inconsequential affairs,” Atiku wrote on X.
“The turmoil extends to the South as well, where the disquiet wrought by Boko Haram and the unsettling political discord threatens the nation’s peace.
“Amidst these grave challenges, the Federal Government preoccupies itself with stifling dissent, resorting to draconian measures such as imposing death sentences on protesters.
“The atrocity in Yobe is a stark testament to the failure of the current security framework, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform.
“My heart goes out to the victims of these horrific attacks, and I fervently implore the Tinubu administration to demonstrate a heightened commitment to safeguarding life and property across the nation. -AA”