Released minors detail ordeal of starvation, abuse in detention
After receiving a reprieve from President Bola Tinubu on Monday, several minors—ranging from ages 14 to 17—who were detained during August’s #EndBadGovernance protests, have shared their traumatic experiences in custody.
On Friday, 76 suspects, including 32 minors, were arraigned by the Inspector-General of Police on charges such as treason, inciting to mutiny, and attempting to destabilize the government.
During the court proceedings at the Abuja Federal High Court, four of the malnourished minors collapsed before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The incident sparked widespread outrage across the country, with civil society groups and human rights activists condemning the police and government for their treatment of the minors from Kano and Kaduna states.
READ ALSO: NAPPS offers scholarships to #EndBadGovernance protest minors, promises ongoing support
In response to the public outcry, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, held an emergency briefing on Monday at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. He announced that President Tinubu had ordered the immediate release of all the minors.
Following the public outcry over the mistreatment of minors detained during the August #EndBadGovernance protests, the Abuja High Court dismissed the charges against the arrested protesters. Those from Kano have since been transferred to the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, where they are receiving medical care. They are expected to remain in the hospital for five days before being reunited with their families.
At the hospital, some of the minors shared their harrowing experiences. Umar Ali, 15, described enduring severe hunger during his detention, often going without food for days. “We saw hell; we suffered a lot,” he said. He explained that he was arrested while on his way to the market in Kano and denied involvement in the protests. “We were kept in the dark, which affected some of us during the trial. Some of us couldn’t see well because we hardly saw sunlight,” he added.
Another minor, Ibrahim Aliyu Musa, who was transferred to Abuja after his arrest, said he was held in the same cell as hardened criminals. “We went days without food, and the little food we were given was inadequate and tasteless. They served us beans, rice, and Gabza, which is a meal typically given to inmates,” Musa recounted.
READ ALSO: Tinubu charges 119 released minors to be responsible citizens
A 13-year-old boy from Gwale Local Government Area also described his ordeal, claiming he was wrongfully accused of flying the Russian flag. “I was arrested on August 15 and taken to Abuja the next day. We were kept with criminals during our time at the Abattoir SARS facility,” he said.
Meanwhile, 39 minors from Kaduna State were reunited with their families on Wednesday. During a brief ceremony, the Kaduna State Government provided each child with N100,000 and an Itel Android phone. Governor Uba Sani pledged to support their rehabilitation, promising training, employment opportunities, and start-up capital for those who turned their lives around and became law-abiding citizens.
Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu Meyere, Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, spoke on behalf of the governor, stating that the minors’ educational qualifications would be assessed, and those who had completed their tertiary education would be considered for financial support and vocational training. The government also emphasized monitoring the conduct of the released minors to ensure they remain on the right path.
Additionally, the minors underwent medical examinations and received psycho-social counseling. Religious leaders from both Islamic and Christian faiths offered guidance, urging the children to embrace faith and avoid bad influences.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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