Hero: Rusticated UNILAG student rescues teenager from prison

A 15-year-old Nigerian trader imprisoned for trying to survive will now be released after former Kirikiri Prison inmate Femi Adeyeye and his friends intervened.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) student Adeyeye was among 13 activists thrown in jail for standing up for a blind undergraduate. Police seemingly lied on the students before a hurriedly constituted Lagos Mobile Court.

“We had fun,” Adeyeye told Newsroom after regaining freedom.

But he also saw what made him sad. He met a number of Nigerians, some of them teenagers, he believed were unnecessarily jailed. One of those is Sunday who is just 15 years old.

*Adeyeye with other student activists after they were freed from Kirikiri Prison.*

“Sunday was a victim of the Mobile Court SCAM just like I was some weeks ago,” Adeyeye said.

“When we got to the place that looks like a house where he lives, his friends and guardians claimed that they have been looking for Sunday for the past one month and have resolved in their minds that he has been kidnapped.

“Interestingly enough, Sunday is 15 years old and he was still imprisoned.

“This is to show how desperate the Lagos State Government is when it comes to generating money (from minor offences). More findings would be let out soon.

*Sunday (middle) with student activists Sanyaolu Juwon (left) and Adeyeye.*

“There would be an exclusive interview with Sunday and others when released, very soon.

“Funny enough, no sooner had we left the Prison yard than Sunday saw his friend, Friday taken into prison after being arrested by KAI.

“There are many Sundays in Prison. This NONSENSE must stop!”

Adeyeye celebrated his birthday at Kirikiri Prison on Saturday, April 22.

Sunday was released to Adeyeye after activists paid the fine a court ordered the teenager to pay. He was thrown in jail for not being able to pay the fine. The government generates money from such fines.