President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the release of the 119 minors facing charges bordering on treasonable felony is a welcome development. The gesture, once again, underscores the president’s humane disposition. It also buttresses the fact that Tinubu is a listening president, who has an unwavering commitment to fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
Addressing the now-released minors, who were earlier detained for their ignoble role in the August nation-wide protest on Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima advised them to turn over a new leaf and build responsible futures.
Shettima, while receiving the minors at the State House Auditorium, Abuja, said that President Tinubu’s decision to release them, made on humanitarian grounds despite evidence of wrongdoing, was an opportunity for personal reform.
He encouraged them not to let themselves be drawn into violence or actions that could harm public and private property, noting that the protests had resulted in a N300 billion economic loss.
Shettima said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, instructed the release of the suspects on humanitarian grounds, despite incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetration and actions, some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves.
“The president, as the father of the nation, is giving these young men another chance to become responsible citizens who will make a positive impact in a drive for a better Nigeria.
“I would like to admonish you, young men, not to allow yourselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property. Over N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and loss of business. Of these, 76 were from Kano, and 73 have now been handed over to Governor Yusuf.”
Tinubu had on Monday directed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to ensure the immediate release of the minors detained by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to any ongoing legal processes.
The directive came days after 76 people, including 30 minors, were charged with treason and inciting a military coup after they were seen waving Russian flags during the protests against economic hardship.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Idris said after examining the circumstances surrounding the cases, Tinubu issued the directive and emphasised the importance of balancing legal processes with humanitarian concerns.
In August, the country witnessed widespread protests under the #EndBadGovernance movement. The demonstrations escalated, leading to the arrest of 76 individuals, including 30 minors aged between 14 and 17, who were charged with serious offences such as treason and inciting a military coup.
The defendants, detained for three months, were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states.
The Inspector General of Police arraigned them on 10 counts bordering on treason, intent to destabilise Nigeria and inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over the government from President Tinubu, among others.
Notably, during their arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, at least four minors collapsed, prompting widespread outrage and condemnation from civil society groups and human rights activists.
On Monday, however, the President instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to prioritise the immediate welfare of the minors and to ensure they are with their parents or guardians, regardless of their location within the country.
To the released detainees, Shettima said, “I will advise you, you are our children, to use the opportunity of the president’s magnanimous gesture in ensuring that you overcome and become responsible citizens who will contribute to the growth of the society.”
He also called on governors and elected representatives from all political backgrounds to unite and support the rehabilitation and reintegration of the released protesters into their communities.
For his part, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state, who spoke in Hausa, promised funding for those who intend to start businesses and scholarships for those still schooling.
Sani said, “As you all know, you are all our children. We struggled for the restoration of democracy under military rule. Because of that, most of us were jailed. I was jailed four times. At that time, my father was a judge at the Federal High Court.
“Today, as I entered, your lawyer was seated beside me. All those people talking on radio and social media, none of their children are here. Those telling you, ‘I was a presidential candidate or a former governor,’ where are their children here? If they ask you to come out and protest, tell them to bring their children first.
“From now on, what you must prioritise is business. So, we will give you capital to start a business. And for those of you schooling, we will help you continue your education wherever you want.”
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state commended President Tinubu for responding to public calls and releasing the detained minors.
While he received the teenagers from Vice President Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Yusuf described the release as a generous gesture towards the youth of Kano state.
Governor Yusuf reassured the vice president that his administration would continue to monitor the well-being of the released minors and provide the necessary support to ensure their successful reintegration into society.
While Blueprint commends President Tinubu’s humanitarian gesture in releasing the minors, it is expedient to advise government at all levels to take proactive and pragmatic actions in order to forestall a recurrence of the arson, wanton looting and threat to the nation’s sovereignty that characterised the August protests, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
That minors of northern extraction could be found culpable of the heinous crime of treasonable felony calls for urgent remedial actions. It is high time the almajirai system in the North, which breeds street urchins and brigands, was outlawed.