Nigeria releases 29 children who potentially faced death penalty for alleged involvement in protests

Nigerian authorities person released 29 children who person been detained for complete 2 months and perchance faced nan decease punishment for their alleged information successful protests against nan country’s grounds cost-of-living situation pursuing increasing calls for...

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigerian authorities released Tuesday 29 children who person been detained for complete 2 months and perchance faced nan decease punishment for their alleged information successful protests against nan country’s grounds cost-of-living situation pursuing increasing calls for their release.

The children, aged 14 to 17, looked excited and afloat of life arsenic they waved to cameras aft their merchandise astatine a tribunal successful nan capital, Abuja, wherever they stood trial. It was a stark opposition to erstwhile they were first brought to nan tribunal looking malnourished and dressed shabbily, pinch immoderate collapsing retired of exhaustion.

They were among much than 70 group facing charges of demolition of property, mutiny and treason, which carries nan decease penalty, aft nan August protests that shook nan state and culminated successful information operatives killing immoderate demonstrators and arresting hundreds.

Ado Abdullahi, whose 2 sons were among nan detained minors, said they ne'er participated successful nan protests successful their location state, Kano, and were moving errands erstwhile they were arrested and taken to Abuja.

“The constabulary conscionable came and took them," Abdullahi told The Associated Press arsenic he waited for them to get location aft their release.

Another genitor Ikililu Sani said his son, Habibu, was astatine nan clip retrieving his motorcycle from a repair shop erstwhile he was arrested.

There had been nary news of nan children’s detention until their arraignment, sparking outrage and renewing concerns complete deteriorating quality rights successful Africa’s astir populous country.

Under rising unit from activists, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu ordered their release connected Monday and ordered an investigation of rule enforcement agents progressive successful nan apprehension and prosecution of nan children.

The constabulary earlier defended their actions, but said Monday nighttime it started an investigation into allegations nan minors were mistreated while successful custody.

Lawyers and activists urged nan Nigerian authorities to spot to nan use of nan children and supply them pinch acquisition support. The children's merchandise is only "the first measurement successful nan correct direction," said Marshal Abubakar, 1 of their counsels.