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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the federal government’s arraignment of malnourished minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, calling the move “reprehensible” and reflective of the administration’s neglect toward vulnerable citizens.
Atiku condemned the appearance of 76 detained protesters, including numerous minors, at a Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted each child bail of N10 million.
Expressing outrage, Atiku took to X (formerly Twitter), saying, “A disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court on the orders of the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has been brought to my notice.
The horrible scene reminiscent of a Nazi concentration camp reflects the low premium the current government places on the lives of the vulnerable, especially children.”
Atiku argued that the government’s actions violate the Child Rights Act, specifically Section 11, which guarantees children’s right to dignity.
The Act prohibits the torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment of minors, yet these detained minors appear to have suffered extensively.
“Children…have every right to protest peacefully,” Atiku insisted, criticising the government for stifling even the youngest voices expressing discontent.
The minors had reportedly participated in #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and August 10, 2024, but their delayed arraignment suggests they endured harsh detention conditions.
Atiku stressed, “A nation can be assessed by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens…even underage children are not spared from the wickedness of T Pain,” adding that their appearance in court symbolises the very issues they protested against.
This latest development adds to a growing wave of criticism against the administration’s response to civil demonstrations and highlights broader calls for a reassessment of children’s rights within Nigeria’s judicial system.