- Released minors describe their treatment in police custody as "hellish," with some claiming they were denied food for days and kept in overcrowded cells with hardened criminals
- Following public outrage, President Tinubu ordered the immediate release of all minors arrested during the protests
- Following their release, the Kaduna State Government provided financial support and plans for the minors' rehabilitation, including vocational training, employment opportunities, and counseling to help them reintegrate into society
Several minors arrested during the August #EndBadGovernance protests across Nigeria have revealed the horrific conditions they endured while in police custody.
The minors, aged between 14 and 17, were detained after participating in protests against the growing economic hardship in the country.
Their release came after a public outcry, with President Bola Tinubu intervening to grant them reprieve on humanitarian grounds.
On Monday, November 6, President Tinubu directed the immediate release of all the minors, following their arraignment in court on charges including treason, attempting to destabilise the government, and inciting mutiny.
The arrest of 76 individuals, including 32 minors, sparked outrage across Nigeria, especially after some of the minors collapsed in court, visibly malnourished and in distress.
During the court session at the Federal High Court in Abuja, four of the minors fainted due to poor health, igniting criticism from civil society organisations, rights groups, and political leaders.
This sparked a wave of public concern, leading to the intervention of the federal government.
In an emergency briefing, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that President Tinubu had ordered the release of all minors.
Idris also confirmed that law enforcement officials involved in the arrests would be investigated for possible misconduct. The Abuja High Court subsequently struck out the charges against the minors.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was present during the handover of the minors to the Governors of Kano and Kaduna, emphasised that the decision was made on humanitarian grounds. He called for the minors to take this opportunity for personal reform.
“We recognise the suffering many of you endured, and we urge you to now focus on becoming better individuals who contribute positively to society,” Shettima said, addressing the minors before they were returned to their states.
Upon their return, some of the minors, including 15-year-old Umar Ali from Kano, spoke out about their harrowing experiences.
Ali, who claimed he was arrested while on his way to the market, described being kept in inhumane conditions with little food.
“We saw hell. Sometimes, we went three days without food,” Ali said.
“When food was provided, it was never enough, and we were always kept in the dark.”
Another minor, Ibrahim Aliyu Musa, recalled being confined with hardened criminals during his detention.
“We sometimes spent days without food,” Musa said.
“The meals were basic beans in the morning, rice for lunch, and a tasteless porridge called Gabza for dinner.”
A 13-year-old from Kaduna, who asked to remain anonymous, also shared his ordeal. He was falsely accused of flying a Russian flag during the protests, an accusation he vehemently denied.
“I was arrested on August 15 and moved to Abuja the following day. We were kept with dangerous criminals in a place called Abattoir SARS,” he said, describing the harsh conditions of the detention facility.
Rehabilitation and support for the released minors
To support the minors' reintegration into society, the Kaduna State Government provided financial assistance to the 39 minors released from the state. Each child received N100,000 and a smartphone.
Governor Uba Sani stated that the government’s commitment is to rehabilitate minors and offer them opportunities for vocational training and employment if they reform their ways.
“We are determined to help these children turn a new leaf,” said Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu Meyere, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government.
“We will monitor their progress and provide them with support for education and employment. Our goal is to ensure they grow into responsible citizens.”
Meyere also noted that all the minors had undergone medical checks and counselling, including psycho-social support, to help them cope with their experiences.
“Both Islamic and Christian leaders spoke to them about the importance of moral conduct and spiritual growth,” he added.
Police deny minors’ mistreatment claims
In response to the allegations of mistreatment, the Nigeria Police Force has denied accusations of abuse.
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi asserted that the minors were never kept with hardened criminals and that the claims were part of a broader effort to undermine the credibility of the police force.
“We did not maltreat the minors. They were treated in accordance with the law,” Adejobi said.
#Endbadgovernance protests: Hunger protest is enough to impeach Tinubu, governors - Saliu Lukman
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the former vice-chairman of the ruling party in the northwest, Salihu Lukman, attributed the economic inflation and hardship to Tinubu’s policies.
Salihu Lukman said the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protest was enough to impeach the President.
