By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-06 03:46:40 | Updated at 2024-11-06 06:34:32
2 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // In Abuja, Nigeria, authorities released 29 children on Tuesday who had been detained for over two months and faced charges that could lead to the death penalty.
The Associated Press reported that the children, aged 14 to 17, were accused of participating in protests in August against Nigeria’s high cost of living. These protests led to confrontations with security forces, who reportedly killed some demonstrators and detained hundreds. The minors were charged with property destruction, mutiny, and treason, all serious offenses under Nigerian law.
According to the AP, the children appeared relieved and energetic as they left the courtroom, in stark contrast to their initial appearances, where they looked malnourished and exhausted, with some collapsing in the courtroom.
Family members of some detainees, including Ado Abdullahi and Ikililu Sani, insisted their children were not involved in the protests. Abdullahi stated his sons were merely running errands when they were detained, and Sani said his son was retrieving a motorcycle from a repair shop when he was arrested.
Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, condemned the Nigerian government’s treatment of the protesters prior to the minors’ release.
“The 114 protesters arraigned today at the Federal High Court, Abuja, have done nothing unlawful and do not deserve the horrifying treatment they have endured since their arrest,” he said.
“Among the 76 protesters arraigned in the first group today, the majority are minors, and the collapse of four in the courtroom underscores the poor state of their mental and physical health,” Sanusi said. “Subjecting minors to such horrifying detention for demanding good governance reveals the government’s clear determination to crush dissent.”
He added that in Katsina, 12 other children under age 16 are also facing trial.
“Many of these children ended up in detention simply for being on the streets during the protests,” Sanusi said. “Children with their whole lives ahead of them are now at risk of being tried on trumped-up charges. This is unacceptable.”
According to Amnesty International, following the August protests, more than 1,000 people were detained across the country, with some losing their lives due to security crackdowns in states including Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, and Maiduguri.
Sanusi further criticized the Nigerian government’s approach.
“Detaining minors unlawfully and subjecting them to sham trials marks a new dimension in the Nigerian government’s persistent attacks on human rights,” he said. “With millions of people on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition, and deepening poverty, President Bola Tinubu’s government should urgently address widespread hunger and the rapidly failing standard of living, instead of prioritizing the punishment of protesters.”
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Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch, also denounced the charges brought by the government. “By charging protesters with treason, the Nigerian authorities are sending a troubling message about their intolerance for dissent,” she said. “Instead of equating protesting with a crime punishable by death, the government should uphold Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression and listen to their grievances.”
The Associated Press reported that, under pressure from human rights advocates, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the minors on Monday and initiated an investigation into the actions of law enforcement involved in the arrests and prosecution.
Following this order, the Nigerian police, who had previously defended the arrests, announced an internal review into allegations of mistreatment. Lawyers and activists called for the government to ensure the welfare and educational support of the released children, with Marshal Abubakar, one of the lawyers representing the children, describing the release as “the first step in the right direction.”
