Malnourished Minors Arraigned for Hunger Protest Collapse in Court
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja abruptly adjourned proceedings on Friday, November 1, after an underage protester fainted in the courtroom. The incident occurred during the arraignment of 76 individuals detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests that swept across Nigeria in early August.
The protesters, many of whom are minors, faced a ten-count charge that includes allegations of treason and conspiracy to destabilize the nation, offenses outlined in Section 96 of the Penal Code Act. Their arrest stemmed from nationwide demonstrations triggered by severe economic hardship affecting many Nigerians.
As the court session progressed, the condition of the detained people became increasingly concerning. Several of the arraigned protesters appeared malnourished and visibly ill, with four individuals requiring immediate assistance as they struggled to remain standing. The courtroom experienced a distressing scene as some protesters were in pain on the floor, prompting urgent medical attention.
The group includes a mix of ages, with many participants being teenagers. Among them are 15-year-olds Umar Musa and Muhammadu Mustapha, and 16-year-olds Ibrahim Rabiu and Abubakar Adam. The age range highlights the youth involvement in this movenent, which spanned major cities including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano.
The protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, responded to escalating economic challenges, pushing citizens to the streets in search of change.
The condition of the protesters, who are yet to be proven guilty of the charges levied against them, has sparked outrage from many Nigerians, with groups like Socio – Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) calling for the immediate investigation into their ill-treatment.
“The Tinubu administration must promptly investigate the apparent ill-treatment of #EndBadGovernance protesters in prison and prosecute those responsible,” SERAP said.
It also advocated for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained and their charges to be dropped.
