From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has, in response to rising public outrage, ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbami, to ensure the immediate release of all minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
This announcement followed widespread condemnation of the treatment of the minors, who were among the 76 protesters arraigned in a Federal High Court in Abuja on serious charges, including treason and public disorder.
The minors, numbering 32, were arrested during the nationwide protests from August 1 to 10, which was aimed at highlighting the economic hardships faced by many Nigerians.
The children reportedly aged between 12 and 17, had been held in police custody for over 80 days under inhumane conditions. Disturbing footage from the court session on Friday showed several minors collapsing due to malnutrition and exhaustion, prompting immediate calls for their release from various human rights organisations and political figures.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after briefing President Tinubu on the development, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to ensure the minors’ welfare and facilitate their reunion with their families.
Idris said, additionally, an administrative committee would investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest and treatment.
The minister said the administrative committee would investigate the arrests and treatment of the minors, with potential disciplinary actions against any law enforcement official found wanting.
He said: “All of you are aware that in the last couple of days, there have been some very deep inquiries and commentaries about the fate or the situation regarding the the minors that you saw towards the end of last week, the ones that have been arrested by the Nigerian police and were undergoing some legal processes.
“You also saw what happened in the courtroom. And as a result of that, Mr President, because of his very deep commitment to democracy and the rule of law, and without prejudice also to whatever legal processes there are, has directed that some announcements be made.
“I recall that I had short briefing with Mr President early this evening, and he has directed the immediate release of all the minors that have been arrested by the Nigerian police, without prejudice to whatever legal processes there are. The President has directed that all of them be released immediately.
“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure that they have smooth reunion with their parents or guardians, wherever they are in the country.
“Number three, the President has directed that a committee be set up immediately to be headed by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. It is actually an Administrative Committee to look at all the issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if there are any infractions found to have been committed by any official of the government, whether a law enforcement agent, or whoever that person may be, appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
Fagbemi had, last week, acknowledged the concerns raised by civil society and emphasised that any lapses in adhering to legal standards regarding minors would be taken seriously.
“Justice must be served, but it must also be compassionate,” he remarked, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of all detainees.
The case had sparked broader discussions about Nigeria’s justice system and its treatment of minors, with calls for reforms echoing across social media platforms.
The Northern Youths Assembly had also urged President Tinubu to withdraw all charges against the minors to prevent further embarrassment to the government.