Amnesty International, the global human rights organization, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of #EndBadGovernance protesters, including minors, since August. Amnesty condemned the administration for holding young protesters who have reportedly suffered malnutrition, with some collapsing during their arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
“Amnesty International condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of minors involved in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests,” the organization posted on X.
SaharaReporters previously reported that several underage protesters, detained by the Nigeria Police Force since August, collapsed in the Abuja courtroom due to alleged mistreatment, including prolonged hunger. A source informed SaharaReporters that some protesters fainted as they were brought from various detention cells, including the Intelligence Response Team unit, accusing authorities of using hunger as a form of punishment against them for exercising their constitutional rights.
The August protest was organized in response to growing insecurity and hardship attributed to policies under President Tinubu’s administration.
Images and videos seen by SaharaReporters show some of the detained teenagers, held since August, lying on the floor of the courtroom. In one image, a lawyer is seen attempting to revive one of the collapsed minors.
The continued detention of these teenagers follows an order by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte application by the police, allowing them to detain the protesters for 60 days to conclude their “investigation” into alleged attempts to overthrow Tinubu’s government. Thirteen minors were reportedly brought from IRT cells, while others were transported from various other detention centers around Abuja.
Amnesty International denounced these efforts to prosecute the minors on alleged treason charges, calling it a clear sign of the government’s disregard for the rule of law and human rights. “The attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ show the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law,” the organization stated, adding, “The authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally.”