President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of minors arrested and arraigned for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests held in several parts of the country in August.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents, noting that Tinubu ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever legal processes that are ongoing.
Idris said: “The President has directed that all minors be released on the and also reunited with their families anywhere they are in the country.
“A committee has been set up to look at the issues surrounding their arrest, detention and release. All the law enforcement agents related to the case will be investigated and anyone found wanting will be brought to book.”
The President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
Recall that the Nigeria Police had last week Friday brought several protesters—many of whom were reportedly minors—before a Federal High Court in Abuja. During the proceedings, four children collapsed and had to be removed from the courtroom.
The court subsequently granted N10 million bail to 72 defendants while removing the names of the four ailing children from the charge list. All other defendants pleaded not guilty.
This sparked nationwide reactions.
