UN-POLAC Appeals To Tinubu’s Government Over Detained Minors

The United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC) has been deeply concerned about the detention of#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria minor protesters.

“We urge the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please take immediate action to address this critical human rights issue,” Mama Amb. Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, the Country President of the United Nations POLAC pleads.

While we understand the need to maintain law and order, we strongly believe that detaining minors is neither a good option nor an acceptable solution. Kindly recall, that the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests aim was to highlight the growing discontent among Nigerians, particularly the youth, regarding economic hardship, corruption, and social injustice.

Bishop Adesanya-Davies states, “UN-POLAC therefore appeals to the federal government to please:

• Release Detained Minors: Immediately release all detained minors and ensure their safe return to their families.
• Investigate Human Rights Abuses: Conduct thorough investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and ensure accountability for those responsible.
• Address Economic Hardship: Implement policies to alleviate economic hardship and address the root causes of social unrest.”

We recognize your administration’s efforts to address economic challenges, including the recent increase in minimum wage, however, detaining and arraying youths and minors is unfair, unacceptable, and beholding all their pictures is quite disheartening and heartbreaking.

The President in the past has also taken part in public protests as a due process in which people demonstrate their grievances to the government towards achievement of true and fulfilling democratic governance. Even if they were wrong, these children should be forgiven just as the Almighty God always forgives us all. It’s been over ninety days in detention and now an array and prosecution of children in court!

In a similar report by, Samaila Emmanuel Bzugu, “Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian government for its treatment of detained minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests. One of the malnourished minors was seen to have collapsed in an Abuja court, highlighting the deplorable conditions they faced in detention.

According to Sahara Reporters, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Director, Isa Sanusi, “expressed concern over the government’s failure to uphold human rights and the rule of law.”

The organization has launched a human rights agenda, calling for concrete actions to protect and promote human rights.

The incident has sparked outrage in the nation, with many criticizing the government’s handling of protesters, journalists, and human rights defenders.

Thus, the Nigerian government faces accusations of human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests.