Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, has vehemently denounced the actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration regarding the apprehension and detention of 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters, which notably includes minors.
Atiku characterized the treatment of these detained children as inhumane and accused Tinubu, whom he referred to as “T Pain,” of exhibiting cruelty.
Reports have surfaced indicating that one of the detained minors collapsed in court, with some attributing this incident to underlying health issues and malnutrition.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku expressed his outrage, stating, “A troubling video depicting malnourished children being presented in a Federal High Court at the behest of the Bola Tinubu-led government has come to my notice. The scene is reminiscent of a concentration camp, highlighting the government’s blatant disregard for the welfare of vulnerable populations, especially children.”
Atiku emphasized the necessity of upholding children’s rights, referencing Section 11 of the Child Rights Act, which ensures protection for children against physical, mental, and emotional abuse. He quoted the Act, asserting, “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and shall not be subjected to physical, mental, or emotional injury, abuse, neglect, or mistreatment, including sexual abuse; nor shall any child be subjected to torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment.”
Furthermore, the former vice president criticized the protracted delay in the children’s arraignment, questioning the conditions they must have endured during their three-month detention. “These children face prosecution for allegedly participating in #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and August 10, 2024. The fact that it has taken three months for their arraignment raises serious concerns about the dehumanizing circumstances they may have faced while in custody,” he remarked.
Atiku expressed disappointment that Tinubu, a leader who once advocated for democracy and participated in protests, would target individuals protesting against his policies. “Children, some of the most affected by these oppressive measures, have an inherent right to protest peacefully, as guaranteed by both the Constitution and the Child Rights Act. The character of a nation is reflected in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. It is disheartening to see that even underage children have not been spared from the harshness of T Pain.”
In conclusion, he stated, “The troubling conditions under which these minors were brought to court only serve to highlight the very issues they were protesting against.”
