Wanted British national claims Nigerian government unsettled by #EndBadGovernance protests

Andrew Wynne, a British citizen also known as Drew Povey, alleged that the Nigerian government was unsettled by the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.

Wynne regretted the government’s actions in choosing to take repressive action, instead of responding to the protesters’ demands.

In a statement titled “Protest, Not Betrayal” issued Monday, Wynne criticized the government’s response, saying, “The mass protests for #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger scared the government. But the government turned to repression rather than responding to the people’s demands. Perhaps 40 people have been killed by police and other security forces, thousands have been arrested, and many are still being held.”

Wynne also noted that in Abuja, authorities have targeted protest leaders and organizers. “Ten people are facing ridiculous charges including treason, rebellion and waging war on the state,” he added.

Wynne confirmed that Eleojo Opaluwa, the first person arrested, was a former colleague of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and was the Deputy Chairman of the NLC in Kogi State. He had been detained for over four weeks without any solid evidence. “His family was told that he had received a WhatsApp message from one of the other alleged leaders, but this was after his arrest,” Wynne said.

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According to Wynne, the ten people charged with organizing the protest did not know each other well. “The ten detainees are accused of conspiracy to commit various serious crimes. However, they barely know each other. Five of them may have been members of the WhatsApp group formed to organize the protest in Abuja, but the other five were unknown to these colleagues. They may have included some flag-waving protesters from Kano who were added to broaden the reach of the organizers,” he explained.

Wynne also claims there is a conflict between the government and the police. “There appears to be a conflict between the government and the police investigating this case. The head of the Intelligence Response Team told the detainees’ lawyers that he would release them but received orders from above not to do so. As a result, the police have developed what appears to be a ridiculous case involving the owner of Iva Valley Books.”

He denied claims that he had left Nigeria, saying, “They claim that I was travelling under the name Andrew Povich, a name that sounds like a Russian name, and that I have now left Nigeria for Russia. None of these claims are true.”

Wynne also condemned the treatment of Yomi, who works for Iva Valley Books, calling it “inhumane.” “Yomi was arrested in front of his wife and three-year-old daughter. The police confiscated all their phones despite his wife’s pleas. He was illegally imprisoned, chained, beaten and tortured for three days, and his only involvement was in designing protest flyers.”

Wynne called on the NLC to expand its protection efforts beyond its president. “The NLC has shown that it can protect its president. Now it needs to extend that protection to other officials, its members and the general public,” he said.

The NLC had previously announced plans for a general strike to protect Ajaero from arrest and detention. Despite the weak evidence against the detainees, they face severe punishment unless the trade union movement intervenes.

On August 7, the NLC condemned “human rights violations committed by security forces against peaceful protesters.”

Wanted British citizen claims Nigerian government unsettled by #EndBadGovernance protests first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.