A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the federal government to pay compensation to minors arrested and detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Frank in a statement issued Tuesday also described President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the release of the minors and other protesters as a step in the right direction.
He said: “We warmly welcome President Bola Tinubu’s decision to order the immediate release of minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests from detention.
“The President’s action acknowledges the concerns of Nigerians and the international community regarding the treatment of protesters, especially minors.
“However, we also call for accountability and reform within the intelligence community. The fact that minors were detained for over 90 days without prompt attention from the President’s office raises concerns about the effectiveness of our intelligence agencies.
“We urge the President to investigate this lapse and consider replacing intelligence chiefs who failed to bring this matter to his attention.”
Frank also demanded that the probe ordered by the President should start from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Commissioners of Police in-charge of Kano and Kaduna states who arrested the minors.
“This probe must not be swept under the rug, we shall monitor to ensure that the findings are made public and appropriate sanctions meted out to officers found to be complicit,” he said.
To ensure adequate justice for the victimised and oppressed minors, Frank urged the federal government to provide financial assistance to their families, offer the minors scholarships and enroll them in reputable boarding schools to help them overcome their traumatic experiences.
“The minors should also be availed the services of professional counsellors to address any emotional or psychological distress.
“By taking these steps, we can begin to heal the wounds of the past and build a more just and compassionate society for all Nigerians,” he said.
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