Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate release of 27 detained teenagers Monday after viral footage of several youths collapsing during their first court appearance sparked nationwide outrage over their treatment.
The teenagers, aged 14 to 18, were among 76 suspects held for nearly three months following their arrest during August’s #EndBadGovernance protests, which erupted amid growing anger over Nigeria’s cost of living crisis. The demonstrations turned violent in some areas as protesters clashed with security forces, resulting in disputed casualty figures — police report seven deaths, while rights groups claim 23 people died. Authorities arrested nearly 700 people during the unrest.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu directed the humanitarian affairs ministry “to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families,” adding that an investigation has been launched into their prolonged detention. Information Minister Mohammed Idris told Reuters that treason charges against the youth have been dropped, though Onanuga noted the president’s wish that the releases not prejudice ongoing legal proceedings.
The teenagers appeared in an Abuja court Friday facing serious charges, including accusations of flying Russian flags and plotting to overthrow the Nigerian government. During the proceedings, four of the young defendants collapsed, apparently from malnourishment, requiring immediate medical attention. Video footage of the incident went viral on social media, prompting intense criticism of their treatment by authorities.
Rights organizations responded forcefully to the revelations. Enough is Enough, a Nigerian advocacy group, condemned what it called “institutional child abuse,” while Amnesty International described the detention as “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly” in the country’s recent history.
