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November 1, 2024
The incident occurred when the minors were brought to court from various detention cells of the police force, including from the Intelligence Response Team unit.
Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, has blasted President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of #EndBadGovernance protesters since August.
Amnesty International knocked the administration for detaining minors who have not only become malnourished but collapsed in a Federal High Court in Abuja during their arraignment on Friday, for allegedly participating in the nationwide protests against acute hunger and bad governance.
“Amnesty International condemns President Bola Tinubu’s government for the continued detention of minors for participating in the August #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests,” the organisation said in a post on X.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that some underage #EndBadGovernance protesters detained by the Nigeria Police Force since August on Friday morning collapsed inside the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The incident occurred when the minors were brought to court from various detention cells of the police force, including from the Intelligence Response Team unit.
"A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they have eaten for some days," a source told SaharaReporters, accusing the authorities of weaponising hunger to torture the protesters for committing no offence other than exercising their constitutional rights.
The protest was against exacerbating insecurity and deprivation occasioned by President Bola Tinubu's policies.
Meanwhile pictures and videos of the incident seen by SaharaReporters on Friday show some of the teenagers, who have been locked up since August, lying on the floor of the courtroom.
In one of the pictures, a lawyer is seen trying to revive one of the minors.
The detention of the teenagers was ordered by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte application by the police to keep them in custody for 60 days to conclude their 'investigation' against the protesters, who have been accused of attempting to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
SaharaReporters learnt that 13 of them were brought to court from IRT cells while others were brought from cells scattered around other Abuja divisions.
Amnesty International said attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over treason is a clear indication of Tinubu’s government’s utter disregard for the rule of law and respect for human rights.
The organisation said, “The attempts to put the minors through a sham trial over alleged ‘treason’ shows the government’s utter disregard for the rule of law.
“The authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally.”