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YRC condemns Tinubu regime for placing children on trial over August 1-10 protest

Demands their unconditional release and the dropping of charges against all protestors

On Friday, 1st November 2024, the Nigerian government arraigned 76 protesters, including 32 minors aged between 14 and 17, for ‘terrorism and treason’ at a Federal High Court in Abuja and January 24, 2025 was set as the start date for their trial. The protesters who were arrested from the Northern parts of the country during the #Endbadgovernance protest that rocked Nigeria from 1st to 10 August 2024 had spent 93 days in police detention due to a court order. These 76 were the first batch of detainees to be charged as later on Friday a further 43 people were arraigned on similar charges in the same court.

The children in the first group were looking dishevelled, sick and visibly malnourished as they huddled together in the dock – a visible sign of their poor treatment and possibly torture while in detention. At least 4 of them, one aged 14 and including an adult, slumped while waiting to take their pleas; with one on the ground writhing in pain thereby the judge had to pause proceedings briefly.

We of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) condemn the Tinubu government for this inhumane treatment of the children and other detainees. We recognize that the judge discharged the 4 defendants that slumped from the proceedings until they medically fit, while the rest were granted bail but each with the now usual stringent conditions such as surety of N10 million. However, as far as we are concerned, even this is not enough because all it means is that they all will continue to stand trial over outrageously false charges of terrorism and treason.

We hereby demand that all charges against the children and other detainees be dropped completely and they should be reunited with their families immediately. Children should be in school, not in court. Putting them on trial purportedly for plotting to topple a government is nothing but a moral outrage. It shows that the Tinubu government has clearly lost any modicum of reason. Rather it has now becoming a rampaging civilian capitalist dictatorship bereft of all decency and one, fearing the population, seeks to rule by intimidation.

Meanwhile, Friday’s arraignment marks an escalation in President Tinubu’s assault on the right to protest and asphyxiation of all democratic rights and freedoms. Just two weeks ago, 22 protesters were arrested, and then beaten ruthlessly, by the police at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos state, for attempting to commemorate the EndSARS massacre four years ago.

Next week, Friday 8 November 2024, the trial of another group of 11 protesters, Adaramoye Michael Lenin (YRC national coordinator) and 10 others, for treason is scheduled to commence at the Federal High Court, also in Abuja. They are being tried for treason because they participated in a peaceful protest in August against hunger and hardship.

We of the YRC hereby demand that charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and all protesters standing trial be dropped immediately. We also demand a halt to all attacks on democratic rights. Protest is not treason. We affirm the right of the Nigerian people and youth to continue to organize to resist the anti-poor capitalist policies of the Tinubu regime which has plunged society into unimaginable hunger and misery.

Francis Nwapa

YRC National Secretary.

Email: yrccampaigns@gmail.com

Activists arrested and brutalised for marking fourth anniversary of Lekki killings

https://twitter.com/HTSoweto/status/1847936013747802475

Today, in the early afternoon, twenty two EndBadGovernance protesters arrested for marking the murder of EndSARS protesters were released by the police.
The #EndSARS struggle of October 2020 is a watershed in the history of Nigeria. The Nigeria ruling elites were shocked by the massive protest of young people across the country to demand an end to a rogue unit of the Nigeria Police Force called SARS. Despite state sponsoring of thugs to attack protesters and shooting of protesters by the police in various locations, for two weeks young people demonstrated resilience and unity of purpose.
Below, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Organising Committee, #Endbadgovernance Movement, Lagos State and National Spokesperson of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), had this message when he and the others were released earlier today:

“We have just been released after the Commissioner of Police came down to the Panti police station pleading hypocritically. The whole brutalisation, assault and arrest happened in his presence.

He ordered it.

Obviously the last has not been heard of this. Many of us are injured. One comrade had blood gushing from his nose. Two comrades, a male and female, were sexually molested. A male comrade was stripped naked – we had to find a rope to hold his trousers to preserve his dignity.

Many are still in shock.

I had my cloth torn by Officer Nnadi James at Panti police station. This violation of our rights and brutalisation on a day set aside to commemorate a brutal massacre four years ago cannot be tolerated.

We want justice. We won’t stop until we have it.

As for the struggle against Tinubu’s anti-poor policies, this assault won’t dissuade us. The struggle continues until victory.”

https://twitter.com/NewsCentralTV/status/1848270043076845679

Onerous bail conditions prolong detention of Michael Lenin & other #EndBadGovernance protestors – YRC Statement

Francis Nwapa, National Secretary Youth Rights Campaign (Nigeria)

We, of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), unequivocally condemn the conditions attached to the bail granted to Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq and eight others, who have been incarcerated in connection with #EndBadGovernance protest for about six weeks now, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja. These conditions, which require a surety each with property in Abuja and 10 million naira, not only reflect a troubling disregard for the fundamental rights of ordinary people but also reveal a judiciary system that does not care about the legitimate grievances expressed by the Nigerians in the August protests, particularly the worsening economic hardship and mass hunger.

In other words, it is a bail which does not guarantee freedom for those subjected to injustice by Tinubu government as it is difficult to meet the financial demands of the conditions. In addition to Michael Lenin and Sodiq, others are: Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi Suleiman Yakubu, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Angel Love Innocent, Buhari Lawal, Bashir Bello (aka Murtala), Nuradeen Khamis, Abdulsalam Zubairu.

Michael Lenin, National Coordinator of YRC was arrested and blindfolded together with Sodiq in the wee hours of 5 August by the operatives of National Intelligence Agency on the order of Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.

The charges are trumped-up and fabricated, aimed at stifling dissent and suppressing protests. For instance, one of the ridiculous charges is treason, which carries death penalty, for merely carrying placards with the inscription “End Bad Governance”.

We demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of charges against Micheal Lenin and nine others, and the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested in connection with the August protests yet to be charged. These include 39 who have been slammed in Kuje prison without being arraigned in court since 22 August, and Daniel Akande who is being held at the facility of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team in Abuja without trial since 2 September. There is also Khalid Aminu who has been in custody of the DSS without trial since the first week of August.

We also call on the police and other security operatives to stop the constant harassment of President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero and desist from the planned arrest of some socialist and left activists based in Abuja. We also demand the unfreezing of bank accounts of activists and organisations which have been barred in connection with #EndBadGovernance protests. Labour and pro-masses’ organisations should support these demands. End the atmosphere of intimidation and repression by the Tinubu government. Its descent to civil dictatorship must be resisted.

Moreover, we must highlight a glaring hypocrisy within the legal system. Corrupt politicians and other members of the thieving elite accused of serious offences often receive lenient bail conditions that starkly contrast with those imposed on ordinary citizens. This disparity underscores a systemic bias that favours the rich ruling elite who steal public wealth but penalises ordinary people for exercising their democratic rights.

We call on the labour movement, especially leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society organisations and human rights groups to practically lend weight and voice to ensuring that Michael Lenin and nine others who have been granted bail to regain freedom and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all in different detention facilities in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests.

We specifically charge NLC President Joe Ajaero to walk the talk he made during a visit to the new President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) as he was reported to have “reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to working alongside the NBA in promoting the rights of workers and all Nigerians” (Punch, 14 September). The NLC must ensure that all those arrested and detained over #EndBadGovernance protests are released. Instructively, they include Eleojo Opaluwa, a regional officer of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Vice Chair of NLC Kogi State council.

Tinubu is using the detention of activists and attacks on democratic rights to serve as deterrent to further mass protests. Working people and youth must fight for the freedom of detained protesters and prepared to join a future protest against Tinubu anti-poor policies.

Protest at Nigerian High Commission in London. Free #EndBadGovernance Protestors

Activists from Nigeria Solidarity, quickly organised a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in London on Monday 9 September in response to the attacks on the workers’ and anti-austerity movements. The protest supported the #EndBadGovernance protesters and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) by submitting a petition demanding the release of Nigerian Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, as well as Adaramoye Michael Lenin, Mosiu Sodiq, Daniel Akande, and all those incarcerated in connection with the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.

Joe Ajaero, who was arrested early on the Monday, was released later that day without his passport, after 15 hours of questioning by the secret police over alleged terrorism financing.

Micheal Lenin, who was arrested on Sunday 5 August, now falsely charged alongside others with treason, is the National Coordinator of the YRC. If found guilty, they could face a death sentence, the maximum penalty in Nigeria for treason. The YRC group played crucial roles in the #EndSARs protest four years ago and also in the ten days of protests that rocked Nigeria last month over increasing hunger and hardship.

This demo is part of international solidarity actions planned by the YRC and the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI) to rally activists, trade unionists, youth groups and socialists across the world to raise awareness about the repression and budding dictatorship in Nigeria. Its aim is to build sustained pressure on the Nigerian government as Adaramoye Michael Lenin and nine others appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday 11 September, for a ruling on their bail application. Similar activities are planned in Nigeria on the day of the court sitting.

Speaking during the demo, I said: “Socialists, working people and youth across the world are inspired by the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria. We extend our solidarity to the working class and youth in Nigeria in their struggle against fuel price hikes, anti-poor economic policies and attacks on democratic rights. We call on President Tinubu to halt the repression and release all those imprisoned now. Only a socialist Nigeria can end the economic crisis facing the country”.

We will continue to raise the issues of the repression in Nigeria within the trade unions, students unions and socialist movement with a view to build more support for the struggle against the horrendous impact on most Nigerians of the government’s neo-liberal policies in Nigeria.

We Say:

Drop ‘treason’ and ‘terrorism’ charges against protest organisers
Defend the right to protest, and free the hundreds detained for protesting
Fight to defend Nigerians from economic and social collapse

USW students demand no expulsions!

Campaigning against deportation of Nigerian students at University of South Wales. Photo: Mariam Kamish — Campaigning against deportation of Nigerian students at University of South Wales

‘No exclusions for students who can’t pay’; ‘Extend payment to the end of courses’; ‘Allow students to pay at the old naira rate of N584’.

Those were demands on our placards, as our delegation of students and supporters made its way through the campus of the University of South Wales (USW) on 3 May.

We were carrying with us the good wishes of a number of others who – due to course commitments, work or nerves – could not be there. With the Nigerian currency worth a third of what it was a year ago, many students are finding it impossible to pay their fees on time.

We were heading to Ty Crawshay – the admin building at USW – named for the old mine and ironworks-owning family which working-class people rebelled against in the Merthyr Rising of 1831.

Student staff on reception looked a little scared when we said we were there to see the vice chancellor (VC).

We marched to the top of the building and found the VC wasn’t in. So, we handed in our letter, took photos, recorded a speech – and put the lot on social media.

Now, we need to mobilise pressure to get results. Students at Surrey University have won a partial victory. We can, too. (see ‘Nigerian students face deportation but Surrey students win reprieve’)

Please send messages of support to our Socialist Party organised campaign.

If you’re a trade unionist, please say so in your message – and please ask your branch to support the campaign. Messages from those in UCU, Unison and Unite would be particularly useful. All will be forwarded to the vice chancellor at USW.

If you’re a Nigerian student or know someone who is, and this is an issue at your local uni, get in touch: contact@nigeriasolidarity.com

Nigerian students face deportation but Surrey students win reprieve

Nigerian international students are in a desperate situation.

As a result of the severe economic crisis in Nigeria, and drastic devaluation of the Nigerian currency, the naira, many students are unable to cover the eye-watering costs of living and studying in the UK.

This crisis was set in motion by the disastrous policies of the Nigerian president Bola Tinubu, whose government last year decided to ‘float’ the naira – essentially allowing the currency’s value to be determined by market forces for the first time in years. This policy instantly led to the biggest-ever collapse in the value of the naira.

300% increase

The naira has lost two-thirds of its value against the pound in less than a year. For Nigerian students in the UK, this means a 300% increase in the cost of tuition fees, rent, and other living costs.

Disgracefully, universities across the UK are moving to exclude Nigerian students who can no longer pay their tuition fees. This would effectively mean deportation, as students would no longer have a sponsoring institution for their visas.

In response to this threat, at the University of Surrey approached the university’s Nigerian Society, and helped launch a campaign to stop the expulsions.

The campaign began with a joint meeting, which agreed a set of demands aimed at university management:

Ensure no exclusions for Nigerian students who are unable to pay their tuition fees

Extend the payment period for Nigerian students struggling to pay their tuition fees

Allow students to pay their tuition fees at the pre-floatation naira rate of N584.20

As a way to galvanise support for these demands, and put pressure on management, the meeting also agreed an emergency protest for the following week. We decided to march through campus on 22 April, and deliver a joint letter to the vice-chancellor’s office, to put forward our demands, and request an in-person meeting between the vice-chancellor and representatives of the campaign.

Protesting works

Our campaign has shown that protesting wins! The university management has now said that it will allow Nigerian students to stay on at the university, if they pay 50% of their originally agreed fee instalment for this term. This is a welcome concession, and importantly gives us time to regroup, and plan the next steps for the campaign.

However, for any student who cannot afford 50% of their instalment, we must continue to demand no exclusions, while also continuing to raise the demand for students to pay fees at the old rate of naira. If necessary, we will organise future protests to back up these demands.

Spread to other unis

Another crucial way to strengthen our campaign at the University of Surrey is to spread these demands to other campuses. This crisis is affecting Nigerian students at universities around the UK. That’s why we will be reaching out to Nigerian societies around the country to initiate similar campaigns on their campus.

As part of our campaign, members in Surrey have also contacted campus trade unions which, like students, are in battle against management – in their case, over the threat of up to 140 job cuts.

Vice-chancellors cut jobs for the same reason that they charge international students ridiculously high tuition fees – to make up for a broken higher education funding model. That’s why we calls for a united movement of students and staff nationally to win fully funded, free education for all.

International Solidarity Protests Fighting the Nigeria cost-of-living crisis

20/03/2024

Protests in Nigeria against cost of living. Photo: DSM

Since Nigerian president Bola Tinubu came to power last May, he has launched relentless attacks on the masses in Nigeria through neoliberal capitalist ‘shock therapy’ policies, encouraged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and international capitalists.

This started with the immediate removal of fuel subsidies, sharply increasing the cost of transport and energy generation. He then floated the Nigerian currency, more than doubling the price of imports as the naira lost 70% of its value. The resultant inflation has escalated the crisis of underfunding in government services; for example in healthcare antibiotics prices increased by 1,100%.

Inflation has worsened hunger; the ministry of agriculture predicts that 31.5 million Nigerians will face acute hunger this year and many are now turning to eating reject rice grains previously used for fish feed. Domestic food growth has also been hindered by kidnapping and attacks by terrorists and violent gangs. Insecurity has only worsened since the inflation with more desperate acts like the recent looting of a warehouse and a stampede over rice killing seven people. With 46 academics in the capital dying due to hardship, it’s clear even traditionally secure professions aren’t immune to the suffering.

To fight back, there have been spontaneous protests, but organised workers should lead the movement. The Nigerian Labour Congress called two days of protests but cancelled the second day, despite getting no concessions from the government. The Democratic Socialist Movement of Nigeria (DSM) called for national strike action from the unions. If organised, this could force a reversal of policy, as was seen in the 2011 general strike in Nigeria.

But regardless of the trade union leadership’s inaction, the DSM, as part of the Joint Action Force, has vowed to continue action, despite the constant threat of violent repression by the Nigerian state.

And so solidarity action must also be taken by the Nigerian diaspora. Here Nigeria Solidarity, quickly organised a demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission in London on 9 March, as a step towards building a solidarity movement of Nigerians and other workers.

The campaign echoes the calls of the DSM for an immediate end to Tinubu’s anti-poor policies. It calls for the return of the fuel subsidy to lower prices back to pre-29 May levels, for an increase in the national minimum wage to match the rate of inflation, and for a reversal of all anti-poor neoliberal policies. Nigeria has huge resources, yet they are used for the greed of a few. Join us as we campaign for them to be used for the benefit of the majority.

We are also campaigning on the issues affecting Nigerians here in Britain. The rapid devaluation of the naira left many students threatened with unenrolment as they were unable to pay their university fees which basically doubled overnight. Over the coming weeks we will be organising protests and meetings on campuses demanding that universities write off the increased burden of uni fees and accommodation costs caused by the devaluation of the naira.

Nigeria Solidarity Zoom meeting: Speakers include Peloala Adewale Democratic Socialist Movement Nigeria

7pm 25 March 2024
Meeting ID: 815 4306 7850 Passcode: 521693. All welcome