Leaked videos reveal the harrowing condition of 32 minors who were arraigned for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests earlier this year. The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows these young individuals, aged between 14 and 17, appearing visibly malnourished and desperate for basic necessities such as water and food inside the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The children, who were part of a group of 76 suspects arrested across various states including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, were charged with serious offenses such as treason, intent to destabilize the nation, and inciting mutiny. These charges stem from their involvement in the nationwide protests that erupted from August 1 to August 10, aimed at addressing economic hardships and demanding better governance. While the protests initially sought peaceful change, they escalated into violence in certain regions, resulting in looting and vandalism.
During the arraignment process presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the plight of the minors became starkly apparent. As the proceedings began, the distressed children were called to enter their pleas, but the situation took a dramatic turn when four of them suddenly collapsed, overwhelmed by their physical state. The courtroom was swiftly evacuated as medical personnel attended to the fallen minors, highlighting the severe neglect and harsh conditions they endured while in detention.
The incident prompted immediate condemnation from civil society groups and human rights activists, who lambasted both the police and the government for their treatment of the young detainees. The Nigerian Bar Association and prominent legal advocates decried the actions as blatant violations of human rights and a reflection of the government's oppressive stance against civil dissent. They emphasized that subjecting minors to such inhumane conditions not only breaches domestic and international legal protections but also tarnishes Nigeria's reputation on the global stage.
Justice Egwuatu attempted to proceed with the arraignment despite the chaos, but the distress of the minors could not be overlooked. The court ultimately decided to discharge the four sick defendants pending their recovery, although it maintained the charges against them. The judge ordered that defendants aged 18 and above be remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre, while minors were to be held in the Borstal Centre in Gwagwalada, underscoring a continued disregard for the vulnerable status of the young protesters.
The leaked videos have sparked a renewed debate over the treatment of minors within the Nigerian criminal justice system. Advocates argue that the children should have been arraigned in family courts rather than federal high courts, as stipulated by the Child Rights Act. The prolonged detention and harsh conditions faced by these minors are seen as a gross miscarriage of justice, prompting calls for immediate reforms to ensure the protection and fair treatment of young individuals involved in political activism.
