In a shocking turn of events, about 20 underage protesters who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria have been hospitalized due to poor conditions they endured in adult detention facilities.
Detained at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in the Federal Capital Territory’s Apo area, the minors were initially granted bail under strict conditions by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
Despite the bail, the minors have faced significant health issues due to malnutrition, poor living conditions, and a prolonged period in custody.
The #EndBadGovernance movement, sparked by widespread frustration with corruption, economic hardship, and oppressive governance, saw thousands of Nigerians – including young people – take to the streets in protest.
In a controversial move, law enforcement authorities detained several minors who were actively involved in the protests.
Originally, 24 minors were reportedly held, but according to sources, 20 of them have now been hospitalized, raising concerns over their welfare and treatment by the authorities.
These young detainees were held in adult detention facilities, an action that violates both local and international standards on the treatment of minors in custody.
Holding underage detainees in adult facilities exposes them to greater risks, including physical and psychological harm, due to inadequate facilities designed to support vulnerable youth.
Minors require a different approach when detained, including access to nutrition, medical care, and age-appropriate supervision.
However, the conditions these minors reportedly faced were far from ideal, with their situation escalating into serious health complications.
According to sources familiar with the case, Kuje Prison, one of Abuja's main correctional facilities, initially rejected the minors due to their underage status. This rejection, although appropriate given their age, left the minors in a legal limbo, with the police continuing to detain them in adult facilities.
Reports state that, due to prolonged detention and lack of proper care, many of the young detainees began to suffer from malnutrition and other health-related issues.
Sources from the Take It Back Movement, a group supporting the detained protesters, reported that they recently sent a delegation to provide the minors with essential items like food and clothing.
To their dismay, only six of the detainees were available to receive the supplies. The remaining detainees were reportedly either too sick or had been hospitalized at an undisclosed location.
A spokesperson for the movement described the detainees’ condition as “malnourished and ill,” raising serious questions about the treatment and protection of minors in custody.
The prolonged detention of these minors has sparked public outrage and renewed criticism of the government’s handling of dissent.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has come under fire for what many see as harsh and punitive measures against young people who participated in the protests.
The detained minors have been in custody for over 90 days, facing severe charges, including accusations of treason.
For minors, such charges are seen as excessive and reflect a disturbing trend in which protestors are met with intimidation and severe legal consequences.
This heavy-handed approach, many argue, sends a discouraging message to young Nigerians who are increasingly demanding accountability from their leaders.
International human rights organizations have long emphasized the importance of safeguarding young people’s rights, particularly their right to freedom of expression and protection from harmful detention conditions.
By keeping minors in custody under extreme conditions, Nigeria’s government may be in violation of international treaties and agreements designed to protect children’s rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The hospitalization of the minors has ignited an outcry from civil society, legal experts, and human rights activists within and outside Nigeria.
Many have expressed anger over what they see as the criminalization of young people’s participation in peaceful protests.
Social media platforms have seen a resurgence of #EndBadGovernance-related discussions, with Nigerians calling for the immediate release of the minors and a review of the charges leveled against them.
Several rights organizations have called on the Nigerian government to respect the rights of minors, highlighting the need for adherence to both national laws and international conventions protecting children in conflict with the law.
This includes refraining from placing minors in adult facilities, ensuring prompt access to healthcare, and providing legal recourse for those detained.
The situation raises pressing questions about the state of justice in Nigeria, particularly concerning how minors are treated by law enforcement.
For a nation that often emphasizes its commitment to protecting the rights of its youth, this incident has exposed serious gaps in the handling of young people involved in activism.
Many advocates argue for immediate reforms within the justice system, calling for clear policies that prevent the detention of minors in adult facilities and mandate better care standards for all detainees.
Moreover, the hospitalization of these minors serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by a system that often treats youthful activism as a criminal offense.
Analysts and activists are urging the government to address the root causes of such protests, including economic hardship, youth unemployment, and governance issues, rather than responding with arrests and punitive measures.
The case of the detained minors is an urgent human rights concern that underscores the need for Nigeria’s leaders to respect young people’s voices and safeguard their welfare in accordance with the law.
Many hope this incident will prompt a reassessment of current practices and foster a more supportive approach to youth engagement in societal issues.
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