Six #EndSARS protesters have been arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Wuse in Abuja on Friday by the police for unlawful assembly, criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance and public nuisance.
The youths led by publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore gathered at National Assembly gate on Friday to continue their protest against police brutality and demand for comprehensive reform in the country’s internal security architecture.
The group had also staged a protest at the police headquarters and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Sunday, where they were dispersed by aviation security operatives.
However, the security operatives once again dispersed them by firing tear gas canisters to force them out of the scene, while some of the protesters were arrested.
Read Also: #EndSARS: Police Reportedly Attacks Protesters, Arrests Six Persons (Photos/Video)
A senior officer at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command confirmed that six protesters arrested during the demonstration were immediately arraigned and remanded.
Sowore later took to his Facebook page to express disapproval of the “illegal arrest” of the protesters.
He stated;
After our #EndSARS Graffiti action at the National Assembly today, we headed to the Magistrates’ Court in the Wuse area of Abuja where some of our colleagues were arraigned after unlawful arrests were carried out by the Nigeria Police.
The court activities were scripted; it was unbelievable! The magistrate denied our comrades bail using the case of Asari Dokubo as a justification. We were all shocked but not surprised. They were eventually led away to prison! Just another sad day and the reason we must keep fighting to liberate ourselves. #RevolutionNow.
Meanwhile, one of the protest coordinators, Raphael Adebayo, told Saturday Vanguard;
After peacefully inscribing #EndSARS at the front of the National Assembly and about to leave this morning, at least four protesters were arrested after the needless attack by the Nigerian Police in Abuja. When we say nothing has changed, this is exactly why.
On the arrest made at the scene by the police, Adebayo said;
The police arrested five males and one female protester. They were immediately arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone II.
The magistrate who presided over the matter remanded them in a correctional centre till January 2021.
He, however, assured that the coalition would release further details on the charges preferred against the protesters after briefs from their lawyer.
