Dozens of teenagers, some as young as 14, have been held for nearly three months in a detention center notorious for housing murder suspects, facing treason charges and potential death sentences for their alleged participation in protests against Nigeria’s government.
Their recent appearance in court has sparked widespread outrage across the country, with videos depicting the boys as gaunt and distressed, hastily consuming crackers and appearing disoriented.
In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered their immediate release and initiated an investigation into their arrest and treatment. All charges against the minors have been dropped.
Despite these announcements, public anger remains high over the economic policies of Mr. Tinubu’s administration, which many Nigerians believe are exacerbating their struggles with hunger and poverty.
Lawyers and human rights advocates assert that the teenagers' situation reflects a broader issue of arbitrary detention and human rights abuses by Nigerian authorities, who often escape accountability.
Abba Hikima, a lawyer for the minors, indicated that the government aimed to set an example with the children to deter further protests against unpopular policies. He emphasized that the government’s inability to tolerate dissent is at the heart of the issue.
Reports from lawyers and activists detail inhumane conditions faced by the teenagers, including malnutrition and being detained alongside adults, with charges that are disproportionate to their alleged actions, including potential death sentences that contradict Nigeria’s child protection laws.
In various courtroom videos, the youths are seen scrambling for food, with some lying on the floor in visible distress as legal proceedings unfold around them.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s country director in Nigeria, criticized the placement of the minors in a facility meant for serious offenders, stating they should have been in a juvenile or rehabilitation center. He noted their emaciated and hungry state upon release.
Nigeria is currently facing its most severe economic crisis in three decades, with over 40 percent of its population living in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 a day. The situation is worsening, as highlighted by recent reports from United Nations food agencies categorizing Nigeria as a significant “hot spot” for hunger.
Many citizens attribute the worsening economic conditions to Mr. Tinubu’s policies, including the devaluation of the naira and the removal of a fuel subsidy that had previously provided affordable oil but strained government finances.
This summer and fall, thousands have protested against the government, driven primarily by hunger, rallying under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance. The protests have led to widespread unrest, including looting and arson.
Amnesty International reports that over 1,000 individuals were detained following the protests, with approximately 30 of the 76 defendants arraigned recently being under the age of 18.
Fatima Muhammad, a mother of two boys aged 16 and 18, recounted their arrest on August 2 while they were en route to collect money. They were subsequently moved to a detention center in Abuja, where officials demanded payment for their food. She mentioned exhausting her savings and begging for money to support her children while they were imprisoned.