Youth leaders from Northern Nigeria urge President Tinubu to reconsider and withdraw the charges against minors, advocating for their rights and welfare.
The Northern Youths Assembly has urged President Bola Tinubu to request the dismissal of all charges against minors being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the recent EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
In a statement released to the press in Kano on Saturday, the group also called upon the president to “unconditionally release those boys to prevent further embarrassment for both the Government and Nigeria’s criminal justice system. This would serve fairness, uphold justice, and adhere to democratic principles.”
The minors detained by the police since August collapsed inside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
The incident took place when the minors were transported to court from multiple police detention cells, including those associated with the Intelligence Response Team unit.
In a statement signed by the Assembly’s President, Dr. Ali Idris Mohammed, and Secretary General, Dr. Garba Abdulhafiz, the Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) expressed their strong disapproval on behalf of the nineteen northern states chapters regarding a viral video. The video shows underage children who appear hungry, depressed, exhausted, and malnourished being brought before Abuja’s high court for allegedly raising foreign flags during an anti-bad governance protest held from August 1st to 10th in 2024 across Nigeria.
“We strongly believe that the court event further tarnished the already fragile integrity of both the Nigerian Judiciary and its criminal justice system. The situation can only be described as devastating, heartbreaking, pathetic, and appalling,” it stated.
The assembly states that Nigerian criminal law mandates all criminal cases be brought before the court within 48 hours. Any delay beyond this timeframe could violate a suspect’s fundamental rights, “except under specific conditions and only with strict instructions from a competent court of law.”
It contended that the ongoing detention of vulnerable and impoverished children by Federal Government authorities blatantly disregards national laws. Moreover, it is seen as a deliberate attempt to ruin these young people’s futures or even endanger their lives.
It also argued that, globally, it has become common for citizens of a specific country to raise foreign flags during protests. This action merely symbolizes their practical dissatisfaction with the current government.
We understand that this government has become an undemocratic regime, disregarding the country’s written and existing laws. It is systematically transforming into an authoritarian administration marked by nepotism, favoritism, and animosity towards certain segments of the country.
A few weeks ago, Yoruba Nation advocate Mr. Sunday Igboho organized and led a protest in London. During this event, he declared their determination to separate from Nigeria and expressed their commitment toward establishing a Yoruba Nation.
Mr. Sunday Igboho also submitted a petition to the UK Prime Minister, requesting support for advancing the Yoruba Nation movement, and no arrests have been made so far.
The APC government initiated legal proceedings against minors arrested in August for participating in a protest criticizing the party’s ineffective governance. Unfortunately, some of these young protesters appeared visibly malnourished in court and many collapsed due to extreme hunger and illness after being detained by Nigerian authorities for over 90 days.
Seeing these starving young individuals detained merely for expressing their views or joining the national protest is an insult to our criminal justice system, humanity, and democracy.
It is both unacceptable and deeply troubling that children, minors, and young Nigerians have been detained since August over allegations of attempting to destabilize the government.
The group further stated, “These allegations are baseless and demonstrate a troubling neglect for the rights and well-being of these young Nigerians.”
Peoplesmind
