Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of a group of 27 young individuals, aged between 14 and 18, who were accused of treason after distressing footage of some collapsing in court sparked public outrage.
The teenagers were among 76 suspects detained for months following their arrest during anti-government protests.
The directive for their release came after four of the youths fainted during their first court appearance on Friday, apparently due to malnourishment.
Viral videos showing them writhing in pain prompted a renewed discussion regarding their treatment by authorities and the lengthy duration of their detention.
The suspects had been held for nearly three months after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests that erupted in August in response to a worsening cost of living crisis.
While police reported that seven individuals died during the demonstrations, rights organizations claimed the death toll was as high as 23, with nearly 700 arrests made.
Some of the accused were alleged to have flown Russian flags and plotted to overthrow the government.
In a statement issued on Monday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga remarked that it was Tinubu’s intention for the release of the minors to occur without affecting ongoing legal proceedings.
Reports indicate that the treason charges against the children have since been dropped.
Onanuga also stated that the Nigerian humanitarian affairs ministry has been instructed to ensure the minors’ safe return to their families, while an investigation has been launched regarding the circumstances surrounding their prolonged detention.
Following the courtroom footage, the Nigerian rights group Enough is Enough condemned the situation, labeling it as “institutional child abuse.”
Amnesty International characterized the children’s detention as “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly” observed thus far.
Source-BBC
