The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Katsina State Chapter has announced its commitment to providing free legal services to individuals arrested during the recent End Bad Governance protest in Katsina State. This decision comes in response to a violent crackdown by security forces, which tragically resulted in the deaths of more than three people and numerous injuries.
Among those detained are Kabir Shehu Yandaki, Secretary of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Katsina State, and Habibu Mukthar Ruma, Chairman of the Coalition of Northern Groups. The NBA’s intervention is aimed at supporting their legal defense and addressing the broader legal needs of other detained protesters.
The protests, initially intended to highlight governance issues, took a tragic turn when security operatives clashed with demonstrators. The violence has left many families mourning their loved ones and struggling with mounting medical expenses. One such victim is sixteen-year-old Dahiru Kabir, an orphan who was wounded by a gunshot while on a routine errand. “I was on my way to buy chicken feed when I felt a sharp pain in my leg,” Dahiru recounted. “I hid until someone found me and took me to the hospital.”
Another victim, Hamza Abubakar, faces severe medical costs exceeding 450,000 naira, which his family has struggled to cover. His father, Malam Dahiru, an Islamic cleric, expressed the financial strain and distress his family is enduring.
In the Filin Samji quarters, the community is mourning the death of 21-year-old Shafi’u, who was allegedly killed by a security operative’s bullet. His father, Malam Mukthar Muhammad, is calling for justice, demanding that those responsible for his son’s death be identified and held accountable. “What we want is justice because of what they did to my son Shafi’u. We will not let this go. We want justice. Just as everyone is aware of what they did to my son, the authorities have the capacity to fish out who did it and let him face a similar fate for the world to see so that it would serve as a deterrent. Let him be punished based on what he did. That’s the only thing that will soften my heart. They killed my son, who was not among the protesters.”
NBA Chairman Barrister Ibrahim Rafukka strongly condemned the actions of the security forces and expressed the association’s dedication to assisting those affected. He revealed that the conduct of security agents has personally impacted him, as one of the victims was his neighbor.
Members of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Katsina, including Aminu Sani and Khadija Saulawa, reported that some protesters, initially law-abiding, were detained and later arraigned before a Chief Magistrate after being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police.
The protests have not only led to tragic loss and injury but have also imposed significant financial burdens on those requiring medical and legal support. The NBA’s offer of free legal services is a crucial step in ensuring that the rights of the detained protesters are protected and that justice is served for the victims of this violence.
