Dozens of alleged protesters had been introduced earlier than a Nigerian courtroom on Friday, sparking outrage as lots of the defendants gave the look to be malnourished following two months of detention.

4 younger suspects – who had been arrested right through main anti-government protests in August – collapsed at the court docket flooring, writhing in ache earlier than being got rid of to get clinical aid.

Human rights activists have criticised the justice device as a minimum of one-third of the ones introduced in for the preliminary courtroom listening to had been boys elderly between 14 and 18.

All 76 defendants pleaded now not accountable to fees of treason, prison and inciting mutiny.

Activists stated the defendants were in custody since August, when protests over a deepening cost-of-living emergency ignited throughout Nigeria.

The demonstrations became violent in some playgrounds as protesters clashed with safety forces. No less than seven folk died, in line with police, regardless that rights teams have put the loss of life toll at 23.

There have been additionally just about 700 arrests.

Based on Friday’s dramatic courtroom listening to, which took playground within the capital, Abuja, rights crew Amnesty Global stated: “Putting minors through these horrifying detentions for participating in protests against hunger and corruption is – so far – one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly.”

A Nigerian rights organisation, named Enough quantity is Enough quantity, known as the status “institutional child abuse”.

“These teenagers have been remanded in prison for saying they were hungry. Their place is in school, not prison. Release them now,” the organisation demanded.

A few of those that seemed in courtroom on Friday had been charged with gliding Russian flags right through the protests.

Video photos of the demonstrations confirmed a petite collection of protesters waving Russian flags and calling on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for aid.

Two months in the past, 10 alternative suspects seemed in courtroom, charged with treason and alternative critical offences.

They had been accused of running with a British citizen “to destabilise Nigeria via calling at the army to break in authorities from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, according to the charge sheet.

All of the suspects in this case pleaded not guilty.

In total, 114 of those arrested during the protests were charged with treason. A judge has granted each of the defendants a 10m naira ($6,000; £4,700) bail.

Nigeria is experiencing its worst financial emergency in a pace – annual inflation stands at greater than 30% and meals costs have rocketed.