By Luminous Jannamike

The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has condemned the Federal Government for unlawfully detaining minors arrested during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, highlighting severe rights violations and inhumane conditions faced by these young detainees.

In a statement on Sunday by its Executive Director, Comrade (Dr) Ibrahim Zikirullahi, CHRICED emphasized the vulnerable state of the minors, who appeared malnourished in court after enduring harsh conditions in detention.

CHRICED argued that the government’s actions reflect a failure to support vulnerable groups such as the Almajiri children, contributing to the nation’s 10 million out-of-school youths.

The organization further asserted that the Federal Government lacks moral authority to criminalize these children’s protest actions and that their continued detention violates multiple frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act.

The legal process has also drawn heavy criticism after Judge Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court imposed N10 million bail for each minor—a decision CHRICED described as reckless and punitive, highlighting that it effectively prolongs the detention of children unable to meet such terms.

CHRICED called on the National Judicial Commission to investigate, cautioning that the judiciary’s reputation is at risk if it appears complicit in repressing dissent.

CHRICED warned that these actions reflect an increasing intolerance toward civic expression under the Tinubu administration, describing the detentions as a troubling drift toward authoritarianism.

The organization urged the Chief Justice, Attorney-General, National Human Rights Commission, and civil society groups to rally for the immediate release of these minors.

According to CHRICED, their detention symbolizes a profound failure to prioritize human rights, especially for Nigeria’s vulnerable youth, who are victims of policies that have deepened socio-economic hardships.

The statement read, “We call for the immediate and unconditional release of these minors, as their continued detention is not only unjust but also represents a severe infringement of their fundamental human rights.

“These children are not criminals; rather, they are victims of the adverse conditions imposed upon them by President Tinubu’s policies, and it is imperative that we advocate for their rights and well-being.

“Requiring impoverished and malnourished children to pay N10 million each in bail bonds is, at the very least, reckless, obnoxious, and insensitive.

“For a nation that purports to uphold democratic values, the dehumanizing treatment of its citizens is profoundly concerning.

“Nigeria has reached an unprecedented low in this regard. The protection of human rights, especially for the most vulnerable members of society, must be a priority for any sane nation.”