The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has strongly criticized security agencies for arresting innocent minors during the August 1 #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, calling for authorities to direct their efforts at apprehending the true perpetrators of the unrest instead of targeting young, vulnerable individuals.
The Emir’s remarks came on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, when he visited the minors recently released from custody, who are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital in Kano.
The minors, most of whom are students and young residents of Kano, were detained during the protest which saw demonstrators calling for better governance and an end to the country’s economic hardships.
Sanusi condemned the treatment meted out to the minors, emphasizing that many of them had not been involved in the violence but had been picked up arbitrarily from the streets during the protests.
The Emir pointed out that these children were not participants in the violent aspects of the protest but were merely caught up in the chaos.
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“It is sad that they received this treatment,” Sanusi remarked during his visit. “Many of them are students who go to school. They were picked up in the streets—not in the middle of the violent act.”
He also expressed deep concern about the welfare of the minors, who had been detained for weeks without proper legal recourse.
Sanusi commended the Federal Government and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for their intervention in securing the release of the minors and providing them with the necessary rehabilitation.
He acknowledged the role of concerned citizens and groups who had worked to ensure the children’s release, noting that the situation could have turned more tragic had the detentions continued.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor emphasized that while security forces focused on detaining minors, the real culprits—the adults who instigated and organized the protests—had largely escaped accountability.
In a pointed remark, Sanusi noted that many of those responsible for the violence had been photographed during the protests and were identified on the streets of Kano and even in Abuja, yet they remained unaccounted for.
“This riot happened in Kano, photographs were taken, people were identified, those people have been walking around the streets, including in Abuja, while these children have been in custody,” Sanusi said, urging that the authorities focus on bringing the adult agitators to justice.
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He expressed hope that, in the future, the government would prioritize identifying and prosecuting the real culprits, rather than punishing innocent children caught in the crossfire of a political protest.
Sanusi’s comments were a direct appeal to the Nigerian security agencies and the government to ensure that the rule of law prevails in situations like these, and that those responsible for inciting violence and unrest are held accountable.
The Emir also expressed gratitude to the President Bola Tinubu administration for responding to the calls for the release of the detained minors. His praise extended to Governor Abba Yusuf, whose efforts helped bring attention to the plight of the detainees and facilitated their rehabilitation.
In his visit, Sanusi conveyed appreciation to the civil society organizations, community leaders, and other concerned Nigerians who played a role in raising awareness and advocating for the children’s release.
“We thank the presidency and federal government for intervening and bringing an end to their difficulties. If this had continued, I am sure many of them would have lost their lives,” he said, acknowledging that the prolonged detention of minors could have had devastating consequences for the young detainees.