Amnesty International has strongly condemned the government of President Bola Tinubu for the continued detention of minors who took part in the August #EndBadGovernance In Nigeria protests.
According to Amnesty, these youths are being held unlawfully, subjected to harrowing treatment in detention, and now face a looming threat of prosecution on unfounded charges of treason.
In its statement, Amnesty International denounced the Nigerian authorities for violating the fundamental rights of these minors. The organization highlighted that the youths participated in peaceful protests, exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right to free expression and assembly. Amnesty officials have emphasized that the government’s actions, including the reported attempts to conduct a sham trial against the minors, underscore a troubling disregard for both the rule of law and international human rights standards.
“These actions represent a blatant suppression of civic space and a dangerous precedent for youth expression and activism in Nigeria,” Amnesty stated, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained youths. The organization warned that continued detention and any attempts at punitive legal action against these individuals would send a chilling message to young people across Nigeria, undermining their confidence in the rule of law and stifling their willingness to engage in civic discourse.
In response to growing concerns, human rights organizations and activists both locally and internationally are rallying in support of the detained youths, pressing for the Nigerian government to respect the rights of peaceful protesters and halt what they consider arbitrary detention practices. With Nigeria’s democratic image at stake, Amnesty and other advocacy groups are calling for decisive action to prevent further erosion of civil liberties, especially as they pertain to young people, whose voices are integral to Nigeria’s future.
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