President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all children jailed for allegedly participating in the August #EndBadGovernance protests on Monday, Cyber Reporters report.
Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced to State House media at an emergency briefing at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Idris stated, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all juveniles arrested by the Nigeria Police, regardless of the legal processes they are currently undergoing. He has ordered 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.”
The decision comes after outrage over the trial of at least 76 people, including 30 minors, who were arraigned on Friday and charged with ten felonies, including treason, property destruction, public disruption, and mutiny.
