A petition on Change.org has drawn attention to the plight of children arrested for participating in a recent #EndBadGovernance protest. Concerned Nigerians are calling on President Bola Tinubu to step in and halt the trial of these minors, who face serious charges and reportedly harsh treatment in detention.
Launched on Saturday, the petition raises alarms about the minors' welfare, arguing that their legal ordeal is not only severe but also contradicts national and international child rights standards. It urges President Tinubu to "protect the vulnerable and ensure justice, especially for our nation's children."
The petition shares distressing accounts of children collapsing in court and contends that setting excessively high bail, in the millions of naira, infringes on both Nigerian law and global standards for child protection. Petitioners express disappointment, drawing a comparison to the harsh regime of General Sani Abacha, under whom, they say, such treatment of children would not have occurred.
"It pains us to witness echoes of a darker past in actions under your administration," reads the petition, emphasizing that Nigerians look to the present leadership for compassion, justice, and a commitment to humane governance.
Appealing directly to the president, the petition states, “We trust you may not be fully aware of this injustice. This suffering is not something we believe you would willingly endorse. We appeal to your sense of compassion and your commitment to justice to halt these proceedings. Our nation depends on your leadership to embody values of humanity, fairness, and freedom.”
The petition has gained widespread support from prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, and organizations such as Amnesty International, Enough Is Enough Nigeria, and Hope Behind Bars Africa. They have collectively condemned the treatment of the minors and demanded their immediate release.
Public outrage intensified last week when one of the detained children reportedly collapsed in court. According to reports, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, charged 22 minors with terrorism after the protest and obtained a warrant to keep them detained for over 60 days. In response to public backlash, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has reportedly directed that the case file for these detained minors be transferred to his office for review.
