The minors have been in detention since the protests, where they called for good governance, an end to corruption, alleviation of economic hardship, and the repeal of anti-people policies implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Nigerian government on Friday arraigned underage children on treason charges for their participation in the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests that took place in August 2024.
The minors have been in detention since the protests, where they called for good governance, an end to corruption, alleviation of economic hardship, and the repeal of anti-people policies implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Take-It-Back organization, alongside other civic groups, has condemned the government’s actions, labeling the charges as frivolous.
They argue that these young protesters, who sought to voice their concerns for a better Nigeria, should not be punished for exercising their rights.
In a statement released on Friday through their X handle, the Take-It-Back movement demanded an immediate end to what they described as a charade, calling for the release of the detained minors and the dropping of all charges against them.
“Shameless government of @officialABAT presently arraigning underage children for treason after keeping them in detention for months. These children face possible death sentence for participating in the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. We demand immediate end to this charade,” it said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that some of the minors collapsed inside the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The minors were brought to court from various detention cells of the police force, including from the Intelligence Response Team unit.
“A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they have eaten for some days,” a source told SaharaReporters, accusing the authorities of weaponising hunger to torture the protesters for committing no offence other than exercising their constitutional rights.
Meanwhile pictures and videos of the incident seen by SaharaReporters on Friday show some of the teenagers, who have been locked up since August, on the floor of the courtroom, as some of other detainees try to help them.
In one of the pictures, a lawyer is seen trying to resuscitate one of the protesters who collapsed while standing in the dock.
SAHARA REPORTERS
