Civil society organizations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), have strongly condemned the prolonged detention of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters who include minors. Among those arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja today were visibly malnourished minors, one of whom collapsed in court before being given food and water.
The Nigeria Police arrested over a thousand people in connection with #EndBadGovernance protests held nationwide in early August 2024, with demonstrators voicing concerns over widespread hardship due to the Tinubu administration’s policies. Civil rights advocates have criticized the charges of treason leveled against the #EndBadGovernance protesters, stressing that the detention of minors, in particular, is a gross violation of human rights.
SERAP, in a statement shared on its social media account, demanded that President Bola Tinubu release the protesters and drop the charges, warning of legal action if the government fails to act. “No one should ever be punished for the peaceful exercise of their human rights,” the organization emphasized.
Similarly, Amnesty International condemned the treatment of minors, highlighting that these charges exemplify “the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law.” The group reported that 12 children were unlawfully detained in Katsina, while 43 others are facing treason charges in Abuja, describing these detentions as an alarming escalation of government action against peaceful protests.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, also voiced outrage, pointing out that the detention of minors contradicts Nigeria’s stance on torture prevention. He urged President Tinubu to release the minors immediately, urging the government to enroll them in schools or vocational programs to support their reintegration.
This widespread condemnation from civil society advocates serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and safeguarding the freedom to protest peacefully in Nigeria.
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