The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued an urgent call to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detained #EndBadGovernance protesters, including 32 children reportedly malnourished and in poor health.
In a letter dated Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged President Tinubu to “use his leadership position to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to take urgent steps to ensure their unconditional release.” The letter was also copied to Dr. Matthew Gillett, the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
According to SERAP, the protesters, including the children, are being detained solely for exercising their rights peacefully. “Bringing charges against children and detaining them simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights is clearly not acting in the ‘best interests of the child,’” the organization stated.
SERAP further argued that detaining these minors violates their right to education, stressing that “these children ought to be in school, not languishing in detention.” The group called on the government to address the issue within 48 hours, warning that they would consider legal actions in the public interest if the demand is not met.
This development underscores growing concerns over human rights and child welfare in Nigeria, with SERAP pushing for accountability and swift government action to protect citizens’ rights.
