Human Rights Group, Amnesty International, has asked the Federal Government to release the minors who were arrested over the #EndBadGovernan...
Human Rights Group, Amnesty International, has asked the Federal Government to release the minors who were arrested over the #EndBadGovernance protest in August.
Daily Struggle reports
that protesters trooped out to the streets across Nigeria between August 1 and
August 10, 2024, over the nationwide hardship.
However, some of the
protesters were seen waving Russian flag, an action the Federal Government
condemned, ordering arrests.
Subsequently, the
protesters were arrested in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Gombe, among
others.
At least, four of them,
including two minors – Yahaya (14 years), Muktar Ishak Alhassan (16 years) –
slumped in the court.
However, when the
matter was called, Audu Garba counsel of the Inspector-General of Police,
informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment of the 76 defendants,
who had been in detention.
Shortly after they were
called into the dock to take their plea, four of them slumped in the open
court.
Videos and pictures of
the incident have triggered anger among Nigerians, particularly on social
media.
Weighing in on the
situation, Amnesty International described their arrest and detention as
illegal.
“Amnesty International
condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continues detention of
minors for participating in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. The
attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ shows
the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law. The authorities must
release them immediately and unconditionally.”
“Putting minors through
these horrifying detentions for participating in protests against hunger and
corruption is — so far — one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of
assembly. President Bola Tinubu must unconditionally release minors detailed since
August:
“In Katsina, at least 12 children under 16-years-old were detained. The children ended up in detention for just being on the streets during the #EndBadGovernance protests. Children with their whole lives ahead of them are now at the risk of being tried on trumped up charges.
“Right now charges of
treasonable felony are being read to another group of 43 protesters in the same
Federal High Court #Abuja. The Nigerian authorities are only escalating
attempts to deprive people the right to peaceful protests, through horrifying
detentions and sham trials.
“The government of
President Bola Tinubu must uphold the constitutionally and internationally
guaranteed human rights of everyone in the country — including the rights to
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. All protesters currently on trial
or detained must be released.
“The Nigerian
authorities detained these minors unlawfully — putting them through horrifying
experiences — for exercising their right to peaceful protest. Government must
release them all — immediately and unconditionally.”
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