In response to public outrage over the arrest and arraignment of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests held across Nigeria in August, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all detained minors.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this announcement to State House correspondents on Monday following the swearing-in of seven newly appointed ministers. Idris stated that the President instructed the release of the minors without prejudice to ongoing legal proceedings.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to oversee the welfare of the released minors and ensure their smooth reunion with their families or guardians across the country. Additionally, Tinubu called for the creation of a committee, led by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, to investigate all aspects of the minors’ arrests, detention conditions, and release.
On November 1, 2024, public outrage intensified when police brought 72 minors before a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of treason related to the protests. The minors, who had been detained for over eight weeks, were arrested in multiple locations, including Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano. Many appeared frail, and some collapsed in court, sparking further indignation.
Judge Obiora Egwuatu granted bail to the 72 minors at N10 million each, adding pressure on government officials to respond. Prominent figures, human rights advocates, and civil society groups condemned the treatment of the minors, especially in light of the country’s ongoing economic hardships, which had fueled the protests.
In reaction, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi announced that his office would review the case and called for the police to transfer the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further assessment.
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