PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed that all the minors arrested and facing prosecution in court over their alleged involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protest should immediately be released without prejudice to the law.
President Tinubu also directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to see the welfare of the minors.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents, in Abuja.
The Minister said that the President said that all the law enforcement agents involved in the arrest, detention and prosecution of the minors be investigated and anyone found culpable, would face appropriate disciplinary action.
President Tinubu’s directive came in the wake of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday.
SERAP urged the President to “use his leadership position and good offices” to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to secure the “immediate and unconditional release of all #EndBadGovernance protesters, including 32 hungry and malnourished children.”
According to SERAP, these children and other protesters are detained “solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
The rights group also called for a prompt investigation into the circumstances surrounding these human rights violations, demanding that those responsible be identified, held accountable, and justice provided to the victims.
Several organizations, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE), and ActionAid, also condemned the treason charges filed by the Nigeria Police Force against these minors.
