Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of 29 children who were facing the death penalty for alleged participation in protests against the country’s economic crisis, The Associated Press reports.
The children, aged 14 to 17, were arrested in August and arraigned on Friday on charges of treason, destruction of property, and mutiny. Their detention and subsequent arraignment sparked widespread outrage and concerns about deteriorating human rights in Africa’s most populous nation.
The minors, detained since August, were among over 70 people arrested during protests that shook the country in response to the government’s economic policies. Some protestors were killed and hundreds arrested during the unrest.
The children’s arrest, particularly their appearance in court, which showed them looking malnourished and exhausted, drew international attention. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Hope Behind Bars Africa, condemned their detention and called for their immediate release.
President Tinubu, under mounting pressure from activists, has also ordered an investigation into the conduct of law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and prosecution of the minors. While the children are expected to be released through a court order on Tuesday, the investigation into the circumstances of their arrest and prosecution is expected to continue.
It remains unclear whether the children actually participated in the protests, which were sparked by the government’s economic policies aimed at reducing costs and stabilizing the ailing economy.
