Political leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi voice strong opposition to the detention and prosecution of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests, calling for justice and respect for youth rights.
Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President, and Peter Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra State, have criticized the arrest and legal actions taken against some minors accused of involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
They were brought by the Nigerian police for arraignment on Friday, and some fainted before Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Seventy-five suspects, aged between 12 and 15, were charged with ten counts of terrorism related to their involvement in the nationwide protest. These charges also include attempting to overthrow the government and alleged mutiny.
Justice Egwuatu granted bail to 67 of the 76 minors who were arraigned, setting it at N10 million each.
They were reportedly arrested on August 3rd and have been detained until today.
In separate statements on their respective X handles, both Atiku and Obi expressed that the incident was disturbing.
The appalling scene, reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp, once again underscores the little value the current government places on vulnerable lives, particularly those of children.
Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act underscores the importance of a child’s dignity. It declares that every child has the right to personal respect and explicitly prohibits: (a) any form of physical, mental, or emotional harm, abuse, neglect, or maltreatment—including sexual abuse; and (b) exposure to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” according to part of Atiku’s post.
The former Vice President stated that it is “reprehensible for someone who professes to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy and led protests to now vilify those protesting against the impact of his severe and oppressive policies.”
He pointed out that “children most impacted by these policies have every right to engage in peaceful protest, as assured by the Constitution and the Child Rights Act.”
READ ALSO: Court Grants N10m Bail to 67 Minors Detained Over #EndBadGovernance Protest
“A nation’s character is reflected in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is disheartening to see that even underage children fall victim to T Pain’s malevolence,” Atiku stated.
He commented that, despite being under the care of the Nigerian federal government, it was clear that the children were not properly cared for.
The alleged offense against these suspects, including minors, is protesting poor governance that was directly impacting their livelihood—a right guaranteed to them under our constitution in a democratic system.
“Interestingly, many of those currently in government once utilized this aspect of the Constitution to advocate for good governance while they were in opposition,” Obi wrote.
He stated, “Furthermore, our status assumes that suspects are entitled to some dignity as human beings, even within a correctional facility. We should all be concerned about situations like this because we are members of a global community where respecting human dignity is essential.”
I would like to express my gratitude to the presiding lordship for pausing the trial and preventing further embarrassment for our country on an international stage as a democratic nation.
The former governor of Anambra urged the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, along with the Police, DSS, and National Human Rights Commission, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the “inhuman treatment of minors” in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
