Chimaobi Sam Atu, representing Enugu North and South in the House of Representatives, has voiced strong opposition to the ongoing trial of minors aged 12 to 16, who were arrested for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest. Charged with serious offenses including terrorism, treason, and arson after their involvement in an August hunger protest, these children face a legal ordeal that Atu describes as unjust and unnecessary.
Atu, a member of the Labour Party, expressed dismay at what he called a blatant violation of these children's rights, emphasizing that they deserve to be in school, not on trial for advocating for better governance. He reminded the Nigeria Police and Judiciary that wrongful prosecutions equate to state crimes, adding that “nothing justifies this clear violation of the rights of kids who should be in school.”
Taking to social media on Sunday, Atu posted a statement urging the immediate release of the detained minors. “Enough of this global embarrassment,” he declared, adding that anyone who justifies such treatment “must be living in the past.”
The lawmaker's statement questioned whether the Nigerian authorities had considered the potential international backlash, noting, “The world must be laughing at us right now.”
