Abuja, Nigeria – In a disturbing development, 20 out of 24 underage children arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday, November 1, have fallen ill after being detained in facilities meant for adults. The minors, granted bail on stringent terms by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, were rejected by Kuje Prison and subsequently held by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the Intelligence Response Team unit in Apo.
Sources reveal that the malnourished detainees have been hospitalized at an undisclosed Abuja hospital. Leaders of the Take It Back Movement, who sent a delegation to provide aid, found only six of the children available, with the police citing the others’ hospitalization due to illness.
The minors, detained for over 90 days, face treason charges for participating in the peaceful #EndBadGovernance protest in August. The protest aimed to address Nigeria’s economic downturn, which has caused widespread hardship.
Human rights and advocacy groups have denounced President Bola Tinubu’s government for its handling of the situation, labeling it “cruel, heinous, and punitive.”
This development has sparked outrage, highlighting concerns about the treatment of vulnerable populations and the government’s response to peaceful protests.
