Outcry as Nigerian authorities detain minors over #EndBadGovernanceProtest

The Nigerian authorities detained minors arrested in connection to the #EndBadGovernanceProtest organized across the country, a development that has generated outcry from netizens.

The #EndBadGovernanceProtest conducted between August 1 and 10, was the citizens outburst over the economic hardship experienced since the start of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency.

When arraigned after over 70 days days in detention, “Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja”, reportedly shed tears seeing the minors’ condition and granted them “the most egregious bail conditions: N10 million naira with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a civil servant of grade level 15 with a verifiable address within Abuja. One must be the parent of the children.”

Reactions

Amnesty International Nigeria @AmnestyNigeria

The Nigerian authorities detained these minors unlawfully — putting them through horrifying experiences — for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Government must release them all — immediately and unconditionally.

Peter Obi @PeterObi

I just watched the disturbing and condemnable scenes captured in a circulating video, showing 124 protesters—among them minors—appearing in court today as part of efforts to secure the enforcement of their fundamental rights.

The footage reveals minors, some so weak that they could barely stand, others fainting from sheer exhaustion and lack of nourishment. These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation.

From their look, they were poorly handled despite being in the custody of the federal government of Nigeria.

The offense being alleged against these suspects, including minors, is protesting against bad governance that was directly affecting their livelihood and which our constitution under a democratic dispensation guarantees them. Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution standing as champions of good governance while in opposition.

Moreover, our status presumes that suspects deserve some dignity, even in a correctional home as human beings.

The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.

May I appreciate the presiding lordship for halting the trial and saving the country further embarrassment it would have been to the World as a democratic nation?

I would like to call on relevant authorities, especially the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, and the DSS, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to thoroughly investigate such inhuman treatment of minors to avert such incidents in the future.

Baguddiriya @Asabe88: This is very shameful and totally unacceptable. @officialABAT pls order the release of these minors. They’re not the enemy. Go after bandits.

Concerned Citizen @TimedFrank: My hope is that this experience doesn’t radicalize them.

Patriotism isn’t enforced, it’s an attitude exuded AND a culture imbibed when you know your country “Got Your Back”.

Who’s going to convince them that the country would protect & defend them?

Their crime? Hunger Protest!

AGF reacts

Reacting, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has directed that the case file of the detained ‘Endbadgovernance protesters be transferred to his office.

Fagbemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said that he noticed that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences, including treason.

He said that he is equally aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.

“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January.

“But there are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me take an informed decision.

“I have directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the case file to my office and hand over same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday 2nd November, 2024.

“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward to an earlier date,” he said.