Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all minors currently facing trial for taking part in cost-of-living protests.
Information Minister Muhammed Idris made the announcement following a public outrage over their trail.
At least 30 minors who have been in detention since their arrest in August will be discharged.
A total of 76 protesters were charged with 10 felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny.
Some of them appeared in court on Friday. Four collapsed due to exhaustion before they could enter a plea.
According to the charge sheet, the minors ranged in age from 14 to 17 years old.
The presidential directive is without prejudice to the ongoing legal proceedings, though.
As directed by the president, an administrative committee will be set up to examine all issues surrounding their arrest, detention and treatment.
Investigations are also to be launched into all law enforcement agents involved in their arrests.
The latest directive is expected to be welcomed by human rights watch Amnesty International which condemned the minors’ “horrifying detentions for participating in protests against hunger and corruption”, calling it “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly” so far.
Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a Nigerian human rights group, also called on President Bola Tinubu to use his “leadership position” to release the minors “within the next 48 hours”.
“These children and other protesters are detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights,” SERAP said in a statement posted on its website.
The office of the Nigerian Inspector General of Police denied having subjected the detainees to ill-treatment, saying that medical aid was provided to the defendants.
It said “age does not exempt individuals from facing legal consequences”.
Police spokesperson Muyiwa Ogunjobi told Nigerian television that “once you are more than seven years old, you can be” arraigned.
Frustration over the cost-of-living crisis has led to several mass protests in recent months. The inflation rate is also at a 28-year high.
In August, at least 20 people were shot dead, and hundreds more were arrested at a protest demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people.
Source: Africafeeds.com
