Nigerian authorities have charged ten individuals who participated in the recent protests against the cost of living with treason.

Ten individuals who participated in last month’s protests across Nigeria have been charged with treason and other serious offenses at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the capital city. All of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The protests, which were referred to as "10 days of rage," were organized in response to the severe economic hardships faced by many Nigerians. The demonstrations turned violent in some areas, with clashes between protesters and security forces resulting in at least seven deaths, according to police reports. However, human rights organizations have reported a death toll of 23. Nearly 700 arrests were also made during the unrest.

In addition to treason, the ten individuals who appeared in court on Monday face charges related to the destruction of public property and injuries inflicted on police officers. They are accused of collaborating with a British national "to destabilize Nigeria by calling for a military takeover from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," according to the charge sheet. The accused allegedly shouted, "Tinubu must go, it is soldiers we want."

Despite a request for bail, citing that the accused have already been detained for a month, the court decided to keep them in custody. Amnesty International has condemned the legal proceedings as "a sham" and previously called for an investigation into the killings that occurred during the protests.

The demonstrations, which began on August 1 and spread to major Nigerian cities, were marked by slogans such as “we are hungry” and “end bad governance.” The protests were organized through social media and were partly inspired by the success of similar demonstrations in Kenya, which led to the cancellation of proposed tax hikes.

In response to the unrest, curfews were imposed in some regions. Authorities claimed that the protests were "hijacked by thugs" who engaged in widespread looting and property destruction. Nigeria is currently facing its worst economic crisis in a generation, with annual inflation exceeding 30%. Food prices have surged even more dramatically, with yams in Lagos, a major commercial center, nearly four times more expensive than the previous year.