The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has defended its decision to prosecute minors arrested during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, stating that any child above the age of seven can be held legally accountable in court. This response follows public outrage after 76 protesters, most of them minors, were detained and brought before a court in Abuja on Friday. The charges against them include arson, treason, and violent conduct, sparking intense debate about the legal and ethical treatment of minors in the justice system.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained on Channels TV that “those exempt from criminal liability under the law are those below seven. Once you are above seven, you can be charged to court.” He further emphasized that all of the minors charged are at least 13 years old. “None of them is younger than seven. The youngest is around 13,” Adejobi stated, aiming to clarify misconceptions about the ages of those involved.
The Children and Young Persons Act allows for the prosecution of minors in specific circumstances, and Adejobi pointed out that these minors had committed serious offenses during the protests, not just participated in peaceful demonstration. “These are individuals who leveraged the #EndBadGovernance protests, hijacked it, became violent, and displayed flags from Russia and other countries, which is, of course, an offense. They are criminally liable, and we have not charged anyone underage,” he added.
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Public concern surged after five of the minors, aged between 12 and 15, reportedly collapsed from exhaustion in court after weeks in detention without trial. The scene, witnessed by journalists and other onlookers, intensified calls from human rights groups for better treatment of minors in detention, especially in protest-related cases.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who presided over the arraignment, granted bail to 67 of the suspects with a bail condition of 10 million Naira each, a decision that has added fuel to the public debate. Many citizens and advocates see the bail conditions as excessive and an example of injustice toward young protestors.
Critics, including human rights advocates, argue that while minors may have technically violated the law, the conditions of their detention and the nature of the charges raise questions about the protection of children’s rights.