President Bola Tinubu has waded in on the controversial arrest, detention and trial of minors who were reportedly engaged in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
After a series of controversies and reactions from Nigerians following video clips that emerged from their recent appearance in court, President Tinubu ordered the immediate release of the teenagers on Monday.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed this development to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
Idris said, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.
“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
The directive comes in response to significant public outcry regarding the trial of no fewer than 76 individuals, among whom are 30 minors, who were presented in court on Friday.
They face ten felony charges, which include treason, property destruction, public disturbance, and mutiny. The age of the minors varies from 14 to 17 years.
