Ten Nigerian protesters charged with high treason

Ten people who took part in protests across Nigeria last month have been charged with treason and other serious offences by a federal court in the capital, Abuja.

None of the accused pleaded guilty.

The demonstrations, dubbed the “10 Days of Rage,” were called in response to the extremely difficult economic situation many people are living in.

In some places, protesters clashed violently with security forces, leaving at least seven people dead, police said. But human rights groups put the death toll at 23.

Nearly 700 arrests were also made.

In addition to high treason, the 10 people who appeared in court on Monday were charged with destroying public property and injuring police officers.

According to the indictment, they were accused of working with a British national “to destabilize Nigeria by calling on the military to seize power from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

They reportedly shouted: “Tinubu must go, we want soldiers.”

Despite an appeal for bail from 10 of the accused, who had already been in custody for a month, the court decided that they would remain in custody.

Human rights group Amnesty International has previously criticised the legal process and called it a “sham”.

Last month, calls were made for an investigation into killings committed during the protests.

Demonstrations in all major cities in Nigeria began on August 1, with people chanting slogans such as “we are hungry” and “end bad governance”.

The protests, organised on social media, were partly inspired by the success of demonstrators in Kenya who forced the government to reverse plans to increase taxes.

Curfews were imposed in parts of the country. Authorities said the protests had been “hijacked by thugs” who committed widespread looting and destruction of property.

Nigeria is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in a generation. Annual inflation is running at more than 30%. Food prices have risen even faster – in the shopping centre, Lagos, for example, yams, a staple food, are almost four times more expensive than they were last year.