President Bola Tinubu has ordered immediate release of all minors currently facing charges over their involvement in the August’s #EndBadGovernance protests.
Tinubu also directed the probe of all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes, stating that if any infractions are found to have been committed by any government official, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday, November 4, 2024 made the disclosure during a briefing with State House correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The directive follows an uproar over the trial of 76 people, including 30 children arraigned on Friday, November 1, 2024.
The minors alongside others were charged with treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny.
Briefing journalists, Idris said: “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.
“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.
“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.
“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”
