…cite child rights violations
ATIKU Abubakar and Peter Obi, former presidential candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), have strongly criticized the recent arraignment of minors allegedly involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Both leaders condemned what they termed the “inhumane treatment” of these young defendants.
On Friday, several protesters—many reportedly minors—were brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja. During the proceedings, four children reportedly collapsed and had to be removed from the courtroom.
Subsequently, the court granted bail of N10 million to 72 defendants, while removing the four ailing children from the charge list. The remaining defendants pleaded not guilty.
Responding to the incident on social media, Abubakar condemned the federal government for prosecuting minors, citing Section 11 of the Child’s Rights Act, which guarantees dignity and protection for children. Both Abubakar and Obi called for the respect of children’s rights and urged authorities to reconsider their handling of minors involved in the protests.
“A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a federal high court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led federal government has been brought to my notice,” Abubakar wrote. “The horrible scene, reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp, reflects the low value the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.”
He continued, “A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is saddening that even underage children are not spared from this cruelty. The appalling conditions under which these minors were brought to court underscore the very reasons for their protests in the first place.”
Obi also condemned the handling of the minors, calling for a thorough investigation. “I just watched the disturbing and condemnable scenes captured in a circulating video, showing 124 protesters—among them minors—appearing in court today to seek enforcement of their fundamental rights,” Obi posted on his X page.
“The footage reveals minors, some so weak they could barely stand, others fainting from exhaustion and lack of nourishment. These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation.”
Obi concluded by asserting that protesting “bad governance is their constitutional right in a democratic society” and that the treatment of the minors in custody was unacceptable.
