President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of all minors detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests held in August, following widespread local and international condemnation of their treatment. The move comes after a harrowing court appearance last week where three minors and an adult collapsed from exhaustion while being arraigned, prompting calls for urgent action.
The presidential order was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday during a press briefing at the State House. Idris confirmed that the release would occur “without prejudice to any legal processes there are,” signaling that the government would not proceed with charges against the minors for their alleged role in the protests.
“The president has directed the immediate release of all minors that have been arrested by the police,” Idris said, adding that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction would oversee their care and reunite them with their families. He further revealed that a committee would be established to investigate the conduct of all officials involved in the detention, with those found culpable facing disciplinary action. However, it remains unclear whether the investigation will extend to the police officers, prosecutors, or the judge who allowed the minors’ prolonged detention.
The decision to release the minors follows a significant backlash from human rights organizations and civil society groups both within Nigeria and abroad. Amnesty International condemned the arrest and trial of the minors, calling the use of stringent bail conditions—set at N10 million for each defendant—“arbitrary detention.” The international human rights group argued that these children should never have been detained in the first place, citing Nigeria’s widespread poverty, hunger, and political unrest.
In a strongly worded statement, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) labeled the trial of the children a “brutal targeting of protesters,” accusing the government of using children as scapegoats to suppress dissent. “The Tinubu administration must immediately and unconditionally release those detained and drop all charges against them,” the organization demanded, emphasizing that the government should focus on addressing the country’s economic challenges rather than punishing citizens for voicing their grievances.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, were sparked by growing frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions, including high inflation, soaring fuel prices, and the removal of fuel subsidies. Demonstrators across Nigeria called for the reversal of Tinubu’s controversial economic policies, particularly the floating of the naira and the removal of subsidies on petrol.
While the protests were largely peaceful in many cities, violent clashes erupted in some areas, leading to arrests and accusations of heavy-handed police tactics, including the use of tear gas and physical assaults on demonstrators. In Abuja, where the protests remained non-violent, police detained several individuals, including the minors, many of whom were held for over three months without trial.
Despite the escalating criticisms, the police maintained that the charges against the detained individuals, which included treason, destruction of property, and public disturbance, were justified. The court had initially set stringent bail conditions for the 76 accused, including 52 minors, which many observers viewed as excessive and punitive.
The minors, aged between 14 and 17, were among the 76 arrested during the protests. According to reports, four of the children collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they could even enter a plea. Legal experts, including Akintayo Balogun, argued that the charges against the minors were legally flawed, as the Child Rights Act prohibits children from facing criminal charges that could lead to the death penalty. Balogun criticized the government for attempting to prosecute minors in a federal high court, which he said was an improper venue for cases involving children.
In response to the outcry, Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, ordered the police to hand over the case file of the 76 defendants for further review. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs also intervened, announcing plans to transfer the case of the 52 minors to a juvenile court in accordance with Nigerian law, while also pledging to provide psychological counseling and educational support for the children once they are released.
The national and international backlash against the detention of the minors has been strong. Advocacy groups, including the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), have described the actions of the Nigerian government as a “gross violation of human rights.” NEF’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, condemned the charges of treason against the children, calling it a “grotesque abuse of power.” Suleiman also criticized the silence of northern state governors, accusing them of tacit approval of the government’s actions.
“Detaining and accusing mostly Northern Nigerian minors for treason amounts to shameful and unacceptable impunity,” Suleiman said. He urged for an impartial investigation into the arrests and a review of Nigeria’s treason laws, particularly as they apply to minors.
CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, echoed these sentiments, calling the detentions a “gross violation” of constitutional rights. He emphasized that the detained minors were merely exercising their right to free expression, which is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. Charanchi condemned the government’s approach to governance, accusing it of prioritizing punitive measures over the welfare of citizens.
While Tinubu’s decision to release the minors has been hailed by some as a step toward rectifying the situation, it remains to be seen whether the broader issues of police brutality, the criminalization of protests, and the lack of accountability for government officials will be fully addressed. As Nigeria continues to grapple with its economic challenges, the incident has raised important questions about the treatment of its most vulnerable citizens and the state of its democracy.
As calls for justice grow louder, civil society organizations are urging the Nigerian government to uphold its commitments to human rights and engage in meaningful dialogue with its citizens to address the underlying issues fueling unrest across the country.
