President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate release of all minors detained for allegedly participating in August’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
The directive, announced on Monday, was made through Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, during an emergency press briefing held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
According to Idris, Tinubu emphasized that minors involved should be released “without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing.” This release aims to address growing concerns over the handling of young protesters in police custody, which has sparked widespread criticism.
Idris said, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.
“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
