Nigeria’s president orders the release of 29 children facing death penalty over protests

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered nan merchandise of 29 children facing nan decease punishment aft being arraigned for allegedly participating successful protests against nan country’s worst cost-of-living situation successful a generation

ABUJA, Nigeria -- Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu connected Monday ordered nan contiguous merchandise of 29 children facing nan decease punishment aft being arraigned for allegedly participating successful protests against nan country’s worst cost-of-living situation successful a generation.

Under increasing unit from activists, Tinubu besides directed an investigation of nan rule enforcement agents progressive successful nan apprehension and prosecution of nan minors, Nigeria’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris told reporters successful nan capital, Abuja. They are not expected to beryllium released until Tuesday done a tribunal order.

The children, detained since August, were among much than 70 group arraigned connected Friday connected charges of treason, demolition of spot and mutiny aft nan August protests that shook nan state and culminated successful information operatives killing immoderate demonstrators and arresting hundreds.

Aged 14 to 17, 4 of nan minors collapsed owed to exhaustion erstwhile they were brought to nan tribunal past week. Most others looked malnourished and mislaid arsenic they pressed against 1 different successful nan dock, nan remainder sitting connected nan floor.

There had been nary news of their detention until their arraignment, which sparked outrage and renewed concerns astir deteriorating quality rights successful Africa’s astir populous country.

A section tribunal imposed stringent conditions and granted nan children a bail of 10 cardinal naira ($5,900) each, which nary of them was capable to meet.

It is still not clear if nan children participated successful the protests staged by Nigerians arsenic they faced worsening hardship caused by nan government’s economical policies that were aimed astatine reducing costs and stabilizing nan ailing economy.

They were detained unlawfully and put done “horrifying experiences,” according to Amnesty International’s Nigeria office, 1 of respective authorities groups that demanded nan children's release.

The children's apprehension "highlights important flaws successful our criminal justness system, peculiarly nan kid justness system, indicating systemic issues that neglect to protect minors’ rights,” said Funke Adeoye, laminitis of Hope Behind Bars Africa, a nonprofit that has been fighting for their release. ____

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