BREAKING: Tinubu Orders Release of Detained Protesters, Including Minors

President Bola Tinubu has directed the release of all minors detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests, responding to mounting pressure from various quarters.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this directive on Monday while addressing State House correspondents. He was joined by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, and Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation.

According to Idris, the President instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to expedite the release process for the detained minors. “The President has directed that all minors be released and reunited with their families, regardless of their location within the country. A committee has been established to review the circumstances surrounding their arrests and detentions. All law enforcement agents involved in these cases will be investigated, and any found culpable will face disciplinary actions,” Idris stated.

The directive follows calls from prominent groups and individuals, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which condemned the ongoing trial of minors. The ACF described the trial, held at a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of treason and other offenses stemming from the August 2024 protests, as a “show of shame.” In a statement, ACF National Publicity Secretary Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba criticized the trial as an excessive display of official high-handedness.

Earlier on Monday, Sheikh Ahmed Umar, Youth Leader of the Tijaniyya Islamic Movement in Africa, urged President Tinubu to immediately issue an executive order for the release of detained minors. In an interview in Kaduna, Umar expressed outrage over the Federal Government’s decision to arraign minors on treason charges, noting that some of the detainees had been held for over 90 days.

“It sends a terrible message to charge a 10-year-old child, who doesn’t even understand such accusations, with an offense meant for adults,” Umar remarked. He also called for compensation for the minors, asserting, “These children must be released and compensated. We hope President Tinubu will heed this call.”

Umar, who chaired the recent Northern Youth Summit organized by the National Youth Alliance in Kaduna, also highlighted the importance of youth participation in governance to address Nigeria’s challenges, including security and unemployment. He urged Nigerian youths to take a proactive role in securing their future and shaping the country’s direction.