Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has ordered the immediate release of 27 teenagers accused of treason after disturbing footage of some of them collapsing in court due to apparent malnourishment sparked public outrage.
The 27 minors, who are part of a group of 76 individuals detained for months following anti-government protests, are aged between 14 and 18. They had been held in custody for nearly three months after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests, which erupted across the country in August in response to a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The teenagers were brought before a court in Abuja on Friday, where four of them collapsed during their first court appearance. Videos that went viral on social media showed the young suspects writhing in pain before being taken for medical treatment. The distressing footage reignited a public debate about the treatment of detainees in Nigeria, particularly the length of time these minors had been held in custody.
In response to the incident, President Tinubu directed officials to release the minors, though he emphasized that their release should not interfere with ongoing legal proceedings. A statement from the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, issued on Monday, said, “It is the President’s wish that the release of the children does not prejudice the ongoing legal action.”
Reuters, citing Information Minister Mohammed Idris, reported that the treason charges against the teenagers have been dropped. The Nigerian Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has been tasked with ensuring the safe return of the minors to their families, while an investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding their prolonged detention.
The teenagers were among those arrested during the August protests, which saw violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Police reported seven deaths, while human rights groups have put the toll at 23. Nearly 700 people were arrested during the unrest.
Some of the detainees, including those in court on Friday, faced additional charges of planning to overthrow the government, with a particular focus on the allegation that they were involved in flying Russian flags during the protests. Video footage of the demonstrations showed a small group of protesters waving Russian flags and calling for help from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The treatment of the young suspects has drawn strong condemnation from human rights organizations. Nigerian rights group Enough is Enough described their detention as “institutional child abuse,” while Amnesty International labeled it “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly” to date.
The release of the minors has been welcomed by activists, though many continue to call for accountability regarding their lengthy detention and mistreatment by the authorities.
