Group demands justice for detained minors, urges Tinubu to prosecute those behind mistreatment

The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners’ Forum, a prominent northern advocacy group, has urged President Bola Tinubu to arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for the recent detention and alleged maltreatment of young Nigerian protesters charged with treason.

In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the forum’s chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, expressed the group’s “repulsion and disbelief” over images showing malnourished and physically distressed youths, including juveniles, being paraded before an Abuja court.

Yelwa condemned the treatment of the youths, describing the police actions as “an irresponsible act of inhumanity” that has ignited outrage across the nation and internationally.

He emphasized that prosecuting minors under charges of treason for participating in a peaceful protest stands as a profound stain on Nigeria’s democratic values.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this inhuman treatment meted out on fellow Nigerians, whose only crime was exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to protest,” Yelwa stated.

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The Arewa group’s concerns follow government statements alleging that sponsors behind the #EndBadGovernance protests had been identified.

However, Yelwa questioned the validity of prosecuting minors and called the government’s pursuit of these charges “laughable, though tragic.”

“We call on the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute those involved in the detention and mistreatment of these children,” the group stated, arguing that Nigeria is at risk of devolving into a “police state” under Tinubu’s administration.

Yelwa voiced fears that fundamental rights, especially those of minors, are increasingly at risk of being undermined.

Highlighting the essential roles of national institutions, the forum also condemned the perceived abuse of the judiciary, police, and security services, asserting that these bodies are being misused for oppression rather than protection.

Yelwa also pointed out recent arrests of journalists, aligning with broader criticism from the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) over press freedom violations.

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The forum called for an immediate release of the detained youths, while urging the government to address the underlying causes of social unrest.

Yelwa cited the UN Convention Against Torture, ratified by Nigeria, as a key benchmark, noting that the treatment of these young detainees clearly violates this convention.

“Nigeria has failed to uphold its commitment to this convention, and the recent arraignment of youths and juveniles is a stark reminder of this failure,” he said.

In addition to prosecuting those involved in the alleged mistreatment, the forum demanded an investigation into the real sponsors of the protests, as well as a public apology and compensation for the victims.

“The government must offer an unreserved apology to the victims and offer them adequate compensation,” the group declared, rallying Nigerians to oppose any form of human rights violations.