The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria have condemned the detention of minors involved in the August 2024 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
In August, Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest the hardships, hunger, and poor governance impacting the nation under the current administration. Many protesters were detained by security forces, with 76 individuals arraigned in court today. During the hearing, one minor among them collapsed in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
SERAP responded on its official X account (formerly Twitter), calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the protesters and drop charges of “treasonable felony” against them. SERAP stated, “The Tinubu administration must unconditionally release the 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters and drop all charges of ‘treasonable felony’ against them or face legal action. No one should be punished for exercising their human rights peacefully.”
The organization criticized the government’s actions as a means of suppressing dissent, violating fundamental rights, and fostering a culture of impunity. “Nigeria deserves better than this,” they added.
Amnesty International Joins the Call
Echoing SERAP’s stance, Amnesty International also condemned the arrests and detention of minors involved in the protests. The organization urged the federal government to release all detained individuals, emphasizing the importance of protecting constitutional and internationally recognized rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Amnesty International condemns the Tinubu administration for detaining minors involved in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. Subjecting them to a sham trial on ‘treason’ charges shows a clear disregard for the rule of law. Authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally,” the organization stated.
Amnesty International also highlighted the troubling issue of children in detention, noting that “in Katsina, at least 12 children under 16 years old were detained for simply being on the streets during the protests. These children, with their lives ahead of them, are now at risk of being tried on fabricated charges.”
They further noted that another 43 protesters are facing similar treason charges in the same court, warning that the authorities are intensifying efforts to suppress the right to peaceful protest through unjust detentions and sham trials.
“Detaining minors for exercising their right to peaceful protest is unacceptable. The government must release them all immediately and unconditionally,” Amnesty International demanded.
