Protest : HURIWA urges Tinubu to free ‘malnourished’ minors facing treason charges

A minor among the 76 individuals facing trial by the Nigerian Police Force for their involvement in the recent EndBadGovernance protests collapsed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In response, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release the detained minors.

In a statement issued Friday, HURIWA condemned the police’s treatment of the detained minors, who have reportedly endured harsh conditions for 80 days in custody. According to HURIWA, the sight of these “malnourished” minors in court suggests potential physical or psychological torture, painting Nigeria as a country disregarding children’s rights.

“The question on many minds globally is whether Nigeria has reached a level akin to lawless Burma in East Asia, where citizens’ human rights are neither protected nor promoted. This situation is a source of shame and suggests Nigeria’s commitment to abolishing torture is superficial, despite its statements at the United Nations,” HURIWA said in a statement issued by its National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko.

HURIWA further pointed to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, which visited Nigeria in September, urging the committee to conduct a thorough investigation into state-run detention facilities and push Nigeria to comprehensively eradicate torture practices.

Reports from the courtroom detail the incident involving a 15-year-old defendant who fainted as Justice Obiora Egwuatu prepared to read the charges, forcing the judge to pause proceedings. Courtroom lawyers swiftly assisted the frail boy to the clinic, while his co-defendants—mostly minors—expressed distress.

Defence lawyer Mr. Deji Adeyanju revealed that these minors had already spent over 80 days in police custody. The 76 defendants face a 10-count charge, registered as FCH/ABJ/CS/503/2024, stemming from their arrests in Abuja and Kano between July 31 and August 4, with police alleging a conspiracy to destabilize the country.

HURIWA described the video of “malnourished and apparently tortured minors” in a Nigerian courtroom as a stain on the nation’s conscience. The group called for the immediate release and rehabilitation of these children, urging the President to ensure their reintegration into society through education or skill-building programs.

“As human rights advocates, we appeal to the President, as a parent, to recognize the long-term global shame and harm to Nigeria’s image caused by the police’s actions, which infringe on the minors’ fundamental rights. We urge the President to release these children and work with the Ministry of Women Affairs to place them in educational or vocational training programs, equipping them to lead productive lives and contribute to Nigeria’s development,” HURIWA stated.