All kids who have been arrested or imprisoned in relation to the #EndBadGovernance demonstration must be released immediately, per President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
During a Monday briefing with State House media, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the news.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has been directed by the President to start the process of obtaining the minors’ immediate release, Idris said.
‘The President has ordered that all youngsters, no matter where they are in the nation, be released and reunited with their families.
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A committee has been established to examine the problems related to their arrest, incarceration, and eventual release.
Investigations will be conducted on all law enforcement personnel involved in the matter, and those who are found to be lacking will be taken to ‘book,’ he said.
Additionally, the President instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to guarantee these youngsters’ seamless reunification with their parents or guardians nationwide and to offer them immediate welfare support.
Furthermore, the President directed that an administrative committee be established right away to examine all issues pertaining to the youngsters’ arrest, custody, treatment, and eventual release.
The group would be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. In addition, the President has ordered that all law enforcement personnel who participated in the arrest and the legal proceedings be examined.
Should any violations be discovered to have been committed by any government official, whether from a law enforcement agency or another suitable authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.
And Idris added.
The order is in response to popular outrage over the prosecution of at least 76 people, including 30 minors, who were charged with treason, property destruction, public disturbance, and mutiny and were arraigned on Friday.
Background information
According to court filings, the federal administration charged 76 people earlier Friday, including 30 juveniles, with treason and instigating a military coup for their roles in August’s deadly rallies against economic hardship.
To express their displeasure with economic reforms that have resulted in skyrocketing inflation and increasing challenges for ordinary Nigerians,
Demonstrators flocked to the streets in August in Abuja, the commercial center of Lagos, and several other cities.
President Bola Tinubu has vowed to implement these changes, saying they are essential to maintaining the nation’s economy.
According to Amnesty International Apparently on the first day of the demonstrations, conflicts with security personnel resulted in the deaths of at least 13 persons.
According to the rights group, since August, Nigerian police have been holding children in custody for demonstrating against the nation’s growing poverty and insecurity.