Nigeria Drops Treason Charges Against Youth Protesters Following Public Outcry

Nigeria Responds to Public Pressure, Drops Treason Charges Against Youth Protesters

The Nigerian government has dropped treason and related charges against dozens of protesters, including over 30 children, who had been detained for nearly three months following their participation in #EndBadGovernance protests in August. Initially, authorities reported that 27 young people were involved, but further details later emerged, revealing additional detainees, some as young as 14.

The arrests followed nationwide protests triggered by Nigeria’s rising cost of living, with demonstrators calling for better governance. The demonstrations turned violent in some areas when protesters clashed with security forces. While official reports state that seven people lost their lives during the protests, rights groups place the death toll at 23, with nearly 700 individuals detained across the country. Several detainees faced accusations of flying Russian flags and plotting to overthrow the government.

Outrage grew after videos emerged showing four detained minors collapsing in court, reportedly due to malnutrition. In response to public condemnation, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of all minors involved. He further called for an investigation into the actions of police and officials responsible for the arrests and the prolonged detention of the children. The humanitarian affairs ministry was directed to ensure the safe return of these minors to their families.

The images of the young detainees, visibly distressed and in pain, sparked intense debate on their treatment and highlighted concerns about their extended detention. Rights organizations, such as Enough is Enough, condemned the handling of the minors as “institutional child abuse,” while Amnesty International called it “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly.”

Observers suggest that the government’s decision to release the children was a measure to mitigate further criticism, noting that a less aggressive response could have prevented such public backlash against the government’s handling of the protesters.