Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, has raised alarming concerns regarding the dire humanitarian situation in the country.
With millions on the brink of starvation, widespread malnutrition, and escalating poverty, Sanusi emphasizes that President Bola Tinubu’s government should prioritize addressing these urgent issues rather than targeting minors protesting against hunger and corruption.
Amnesty International accuses Tinubu’s administration of unlawfully detaining these minors since August, without access to legal representation or contact with their families. The conditions of their detention are reportedly appalling, with many requiring immediate medical attention.
“Tinubu must order the immediate and unconditional release of all #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters who have been unlawfully detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest,” said Sanusi. The ongoing detention of protesters, coupled with charges of dubious offenses such as ‘treasonable felony’ and ‘terrorism-related offences,’ highlights the government’s blatant disregard for the right to freedom of assembly.
At a recent arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, 114 protesters were presented, with many facing inhumane treatment. “The majority of the 76 protesters in the first group are minors, and the collapse of four individuals in the courtroom serves as a stark reminder of their deteriorating mental and physical health,” Sanusi noted. “The government’s actions in subjecting minors to such horrific conditions for demanding good governance reflect a clear intent to stifle dissent.”
In Katsina, 12 children under the age of 16 are also undergoing unfair trials, having been detained merely for being present during the protests. “These children, who have their entire futures ahead of them, are now at risk of facing baseless charges, which is entirely unacceptable,” Sanusi stressed. Following the August protests, over 1,000 individuals were detained nationwide, with reports indicating fatalities due to violent crackdowns by security forces in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Niger State, and Maiduguri.
Sanusi concludes that the unlawful detention of minors and their exposure to sham trials represent a new low in the Nigerian government’s ongoing assault on human rights. “In light of the widespread hunger, malnutrition, and deepening poverty affecting millions, it is critical that President Tinubu’s government focuses on these pressing humanitarian issues rather than punishing those who seek to voice their concerns.
