In Nigeria, 29 children are exempted from the death penalty for participating in protests
On 5 November, the Nigerian authorities released 29 minors who had been detained for more than two months. They faced the death penalty for suspicion of participating in protests against the catastrophically low standard of living in the country, the Associated Press reports.
In total, according to the agency, 70 people have been charged with involvement in the protests. Of these, 29 teenagers aged 14 to 17 were released, who were also accused of destroying property, inciting rebellion and treason – crimes that carry the death penalty.
The father of the two detained teenagers claims that his children did not take part in the protests.
‘The police just came and took them away,’ he said as he waited for his children to return. Another father said that his son was picking up his motorbike from a repair shop at the time of his detention. The news of the children’s detention came to light only after the charges were announced, sparking a wave of outrage and concern about the human rights situation in Nigeria.
Following pressure from activists, on 4 November, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the children and the launch of an investigation into the actions of law enforcement officers involved in their detention and prosecution.
Earlier, the police defended their actions, but later announced the launch of an investigation into possible cases of ill-treatment of minors in custody.
Lawyers and human rights defenders are calling on the Nigerian government to provide the children with adequate conditions and educational support for their rehabilitation.
