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Nigerian authorities Monday dismissed treason and related charges against dozens of detained protesters, including more than 30 children who had been held for nearly three months. The detainees, some as young as 14, had been arrested during a wave of anti-government protests in August sparked by soaring living costs, which led to widespread unrest across the country.
The protests, marked by the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, saw citizens taking to the streets to express frustration with worsening economic conditions and government inaction. Although the demonstrations began peacefully, they escalated into violent clashes between protesters and security forces in certain areas. The Nigerian police reported that seven people lost their lives in the chaos, although human rights organizations later put the death toll at 23. Nearly 700 individuals were taken into custody in the aftermath, including children and teenagers swept up in the crackdown.
Footage that surfaced last Friday shocked the nation as it showed four young detainees collapsing in court, allegedly due to malnutrition and prolonged detention. This incident ignited widespread outrage and brought renewed scrutiny to the treatment of child detainees within Nigeria’s legal system. President Bola Tinubu, responding swiftly to the public outcry, ordered the immediate release of all minors. He also called for an investigation into the conduct of police officers and legal officials responsible for the arrests and prolonged detention of the children.
The disturbing videos, which went viral, added fuel to a growing debate about police brutality and the high-handed tactics used against young protesters. Originally, reports indicated that 27 minors were detained, but further revelations disclosed an even larger group of young detainees, many aged between 14 and 17. Some of the charges against them included “attempting to overthrow the government” and allegedly displaying Russian flags—a charge rights activists labeled as both baseless and a means to intimidate the youth.
In response to the unfolding scandal, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed on Monday that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs had been instructed to oversee the safe return of the minors to their families. Additionally, an investigation was launched to uncover the factors contributing to their prolonged detention without trial. Nigerian advocacy group Enough is Enough condemned the children’s treatment as “institutional child abuse,” while Amnesty International described the events as one of the most severe attempts to silence freedom of assembly in recent years.
Analysts suggest that the decision to release the minors and drop charges was a calculated move by the government to restore its image in light of widespread criticism. “This could have been avoided if authorities had not reacted so aggressively toward young protesters,” remarked one observer.
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