Detained Minors: Rights Group Demands Compensation, Public Apology From FG

By Akinwale Kasali

A Coalition of Rights Group has called on the Federal Government as, a matter of urgency to publicly apologize and compensate Minors detained for close to 100 days during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance Protest.

The protest against Bad Governance, Hike in Petrol Pump Price, Hike in Commodities and the hardship faced by the masses, saw Security Agents arresting these Minors who were paraded in the Court.

This led to public outrage, against the FG for docking Minors some of whom also fainted in Court.

Following this development, President Tinubu waded into the issue, and ordered  the release of the Minors.

However, despite the release of the child- protesters alongside 87 other protesters, advocates argue that justice remains incomplete without accountability and restitution.

In a joint press release issued by the CSOs, they claimed that the children’s prolonged detention was a gross violation of their rights.

The statement referenced media reports which indicated that during their time in custody, the minors were held in adult facilities, starved, and mistreated; conditions that contravene both the Nigerian Child Rights Act (2003) and international conventions like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The statement reads in part: “The government’s actions not only deprived these children of their fundamental rights but also inflicted psychological and physical harm that will have lasting impacts.

In addition to an apology, the coalition demands that the government provide adequate compensation to help these children rebuild their lives. They also called for psycho-social support to address the trauma caused by their wrongful detention.

“These children deserve immediate care to overcome the trauma they’ve endured, and the government must fund these efforts to truly make amends,” the statement urged.

Despite the government’s intention to investigate the circumstances of the arrests, rights groups remain skeptical of an internal probe’s credibility, calling instead for an independent panel with civil society representation. The coalition argues that this external oversight is essential to ensure accountability, especially if government officials are implicated.

The groups further highlighted that these events reflect a broader crisis within Nigeria’s justice system, where children frequently suffer in detention without appropriate protection or support. Thousands of minors reportedly remain in adult facilities, awaiting trial under Nigeria’s overwhelmed system.

The groups are urging the Federal Government to act decisively and end systemic child rights abuses. “This apology and compensation can signal a commitment to protect children’s welfare and help restore public trust in the institutions meant to safeguard all citizens, especially the youngest among us,” the statement concluded.

The CSOs are: CEE-HOPE Nigeria; Child Protection Network, Lagos; Child to Child Network; S.A.F.E for Children® Society; Initiative for Social Impact and Sustainable Development; Community Women’s Initiative; Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP); Media Concern Initiative; ACTS Generation; Kreative Arts Foundation for Community Engagement (KAfcOmE); Youth Rights Campaign (YRC); Dorothy Njemanze Foundation; Think Child First; Bimbo Odukoya Foundation; and Enough is Enough Nigeria.