President Tinubu Orders Release of 72 Minors Arrested During #EndBadGovernance Protests
Following national outrage over the recent arraignment of 72 minors linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed their immediate release. The announcement came on Monday from Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, after the President’s swearing-in ceremony for seven newly appointed ministers cleared by the Senate.
According to Idris, the President ordered the release without prejudice to ongoing legal proceedings. He also instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to oversee the children’s welfare and ensure their safe reunion with families or guardians across the country. A committee, led by the ministry, will review all aspects of the minors’ arrest, detention, treatment, and eventual release.
The move follows public outcry after the children were presented in an Abuja Federal High Court on charges, including treason. The minors, reportedly detained in Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, appeared visibly malnourished and some collapsed in court. Presiding Judge Obiora Egwuatu granted them bail set at ₦10 million each, sparking further debate on the justice process.
President Tinubu’s response aims to address both the welfare of the detained minors and the broader concerns surrounding their treatment.