Three minors detained in Borno State for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest remain in custody, despite a recent directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordering their immediate release. President Tinubu's directive, issued three days ago, led to the release of minors held in Abuja, but the Borno minors are still held in a juvenile facility in Maiduguri.
According to Barrister Yakubu Alhaji Adamu, the defence counsel for the minors, they continue to be detained following a court order. Initially arraigned before Justice Aisha Mohammed Ali at State High Court 10 in Maiduguri, the minors pleaded not guilty to charges related to the protest. The judge ordered their remand in the juvenile facility and adjourned the case until November 18, 2024.
Salamtu Idrisa from the Borno State Ministry of Justice’s Public Prosecutions Office stated that no formal communication has been received regarding the minors' release. "If there is any update on their release, we will be informed," she said.
This case highlights ongoing tensions and legal complexities surrounding the detention of minors in relation to the #EndBadGovernance movement, raising questions about the enforcement of presidential directives at the state level.
