Monday, President Bola Tinubu has orders release of all minors arrested over #EndBadGovernance protests.
Information minister, Mohammed Idris, made this known during a press briefing on Monday, saying the president has directed Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi to act fast.
“All the minors in police custody should be released now, no matter the court case,” Idris said.
The #EndBadGovernance protests held in August saw Nigerians protest for 10 days over economic hardship and inflation. Though largely peaceful, it got violent in some areas and some protesters even displayed Russian flags in the northern states.
On November 1, 76 persons were arraigned for participating in the protests, many charged with treason. Many minors looked sick in court and 4 of them collapsed and this sparked outrage online and more calls for their release.
The attorney-general asked the police to submit the case files.
Idris also said the government is responding to the public outcry on the treatment of these minors. “The president who is committed to democracy and human rights has asked for a statement on his decisions,” he said.
Besides releasing the minors, Tinubu has asked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to oversee their rehabilitation and reintegration into their families.
The president also directed the setting up of an administrative committee headed by the humanitarian affairs ministry to look into all aspects of the minors’ arrest, detention and treatment before their release.
“The committee will investigate any mistreatment or procedural lapses by officials involved in the arrest of these minors. If any is found, disciplinary action will be taken,” Idris said, stressing government’s commitment to accountability in law enforcement.
The directive aims to prioritize the welfare of the affected children, ensuring they receive support to reintegrate safely into their communities and families.
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