By Divine Sam
The Nigerian government’s decision to release all minors arrested in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests has sparked mixed reactions from various quarters. President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of these minors, who were detained for participating in last August’s demonstrations, following widespread public backlash and protests from civil rights groups.
The minors, aged between 14 and 17, had been charged with serious offences such as treason and inciting a military coup, particularly after they were seen waving Russian flags during the protests. This raised concerns among rights organizations, who condemned the arrests and treatment of the minors. Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) strongly criticized the government, calling for a halt to punitive actions against protesters and an urgent focus on addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic issues, such as widespread hunger and poverty.
While some Nigerians welcomed the release, viewing it as a step in the right direction, many pointed out the belated nature of the decision. Human rights advocates and legal experts like Femi Falana emphasized the need for the government to do more than just release the minors — urging rehabilitation, education, and support for reintegration into society. Falana also warned that legal action would be pursued if the government failed to comply with its obligations under Nigeria’s child rights laws.
Others, such as the Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, Okechukwu Nwaguma, called for a public apology from the government and a commitment to prevent similar incidents in the future. Nwaguma condemned the prolonged detention of the minors, particularly in harsh conditions, alongside adults.
Some observers also criticized the government’s approach, noting that the children should never have been detained in the first place, and that their treatment violated Nigerian laws designed to protect minors. Furthermore, there were calls for compensation and support for the minors to ensure they are properly reintegrated into the education system.
Despite the release, questions remain about the government’s handling of the protests, with some accusing the administration of responding reactively, rather than proactively, to the situation. Several legal experts and activists are now calling for reforms in the justice and security systems to prevent such a situation from arising again.