In response to the outrage following the arrest and arraignment of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country in August, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all detainees.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to State House reporters on Monday after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers who had been approved by the Senate.
The minister stated that the President directed the immediate release of the minors, regardless of any ongoing legal processes.
Additionally, Tinubu instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to ensure the welfare of the minors and facilitate their reunion with their parents or guardians throughout the country.
He also called for the establishment of a committee led by the humanitarian affairs ministry to examine all issues related to the arrest, detention, treatment, and eventual release of the minors.
On Friday, November 1, 2024, public outrage erupted when police presented 72 minors before a Federal High Court in Abuja due to their participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The defendants, facing charges including treason, were arrested in various locations, including Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states. Some appeared gaunt and malnourished and collapsed in court.
Presiding judge Obiora Egwuatu granted bail of N10 million to the 72 minors who were arraigned.
Many Nigerians, including former presidential candidates, civil society organizations, human rights activists, and regional socio-political groups, expressed their outrage upon discovering that the minors had been detained for over eight weeks following the nationwide protests against hunger and the high cost of living.
Amid the widespread condemnation of the government’s actions, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi quickly issued a statement indicating that his office would review the situation to make an informed decision.
Fagbemi also directed the police to transfer the case file to his office and to hand it over to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF).