The arraignment of five young Nigerians who were arrested for participating in the protest tagged #NorthIsBleeding to demand for improved security in the Northern region could not go on as some courts refused to assign the case.
SaharaReporters had on Wednesday reported that the protesters had been subjected to all forms of inhuman and degrading treatments since their arrest at the Area 1 roundabout when they were about to conclude the peaceful protest.
They were transferred from the FCT Police Command to the facility meant for the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) popularly known as Abattoir where they were being tortured and denied access to lawyers and medical treatment.
In attempt to arraign and file bogus charges against them, the police on Thursday hurriedly took the young men to a Magistrate court located at Wuse Zone 6 Abuja where it was gathered that the Magistrate allegedly rejected the case.
The police in their desperation later took them to another Magistrate court at Wuse Zone 2 where the police prosecutor could not get the case registered and assigned.
The lawyer to the protesters, Samuel Ihensekhien who spoke to SaharaReporters said, “They brought the innocent protesters of #NorthIsBleeding but it is quite unfortunate they couldn’t get the police prosecutor to get the matter assigned because of bureaucratic delay.
“The innocent protesters have been sent back to the detention with reference that they will be produced tomorrow (Friday) for proper arraignment in the appropriate magistrate court”
Meanwhile in a video clip obtained by SaharaReporters, the detained protesters were seen lamenting how they were tortured and brutalised by the police.
One of them said a police officer hit him in the eye. The protesters also showed the injuries on their bodies.
