The mere fact that Nigeria finds itself prosecuting children for participating in peaceful protests underscores a profound crisis in governance. These children are not criminals; they are the casualties of an economy that leaves families starving, communities impoverished, and children without hope. Instead of heeding their outcry, Nigerian leaders have chosen to vilify these young protesters, treating them as enemies of the state. Watching these children, who should be in classrooms or playing with their friends and families, dragged through judicial processes is a disgrace to any country that claims to uphold democratic values. By prosecuting these children, the Nigerian government showed its contempt for youth, crushing any hope they might have had for a better future.
Nigeria’s continued treatment of children in this manner contravenes both national and international commitments, including its own Child Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which Nigeria ratified. These standards explicitly prohibit the arbitrary detention and inhumane treatment of children, and they affirm children’s rights to dignity, security, and freedom from torture. The UNCRC calls for the protection of children’s rights, including their right to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. It also prohibits the use of punitive judicial processes that undermine children’s wellbeing. The detention and prosecution of underage protestors, especially while enduring starvation and inadequate care demonstrates Nigeria’s flagrant violation of its international obligations.
According to the Nigeria Child Rights Act, no child should face trial for activities related to peaceful protests. Children are granted the right to free expression, and any attempts to silence them contravene their fundamental rights. For emphasis, Section 11 of the Child Rights Act guarantees dignity of the child. It states that: “Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be ‐ (a) subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; (b) subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The government’s decision to criminalize these children’s participation in peaceful protests only serves to highlight its determination to crush any form of dissent, regardless of age. The prosecution of these young protesters also reflects a willful neglect of these obligations, amounting to a betrayal of Nigeria’s commitment to human rights.
The disturbing video of malnourished children being arraigned before a Federal High Court, with some of them collapsing in court, is a stark reminder of the gross injustices being perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of society. The images of hungry children collapsing in a courtroom while on trial for daring to protest are emblematic of the wider criminalization of poverty in Nigeria. These children were not driven to the streets out of mischief; they joined protests out of desperation for a better life, one where they would have access to education, healthcare, and the opportunity to escape poverty. Yet, the government has responded by exacerbating their suffering, placing them in detention where they have been further deprived of basic necessities. The systematic neglect these children have suffered is emblematic of Tinubu’s failure to address poverty and inequality. By criminalizing underage protesters, the government is effectively punishing children for circumstances they were born into. It is a damning reflection of the nation’s priorities that children in dire need are treated as criminals rather than as individuals worthy of protection and support.
The judicial and political authorities must immediately halt the prosecution of these underage protesters. All charges should be dropped, and these children should be provided with the psychological and physical support necessary to recover from this traumatic experience. Furthermore, a thorough investigation into the conditions of their detention must be conducted, with those responsible for their mistreatment held accountable. The international community, human rights organizations, and child advocacy groups must also pressure President Tinubu to respect the rights of Nigerian children. Public condemnation alone will not suffice; there must be sustained international scrutiny and pressure to ensure Nigeria can no longer evade responsibility for its treatment of its young citizens.
The persecution of these young protesters underscores the urgent need for reform in Nigeria’s approach to juvenile justice and the right to free protest. First, there must be comprehensive legislation protecting the rights of children to participate in peaceful protests without fear of retribution. In addition, the judicial system must be reformed to ensure that no child is ever subjected to such cruel and inhumane treatment for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The broader societal issues that drove these children to protest must also be addressed. President Tinubu cannot continue to ignore the widespread poverty, lack of access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare that plague the nation’s youth. These children risked their lives not out of recklessness, but out of a desperate need for change. They deserve to be heard, protected and given the resources to build better lives for themselves not to be silenced and prosecuted.
The images of children in a courtroom should shake the conscience of the nation. No child should suffer because of the government’s failure to protect its citizens and provide basic needs. By prosecuting underage protesters, the Nigerian government has chosen to prioritize authoritarian control over the welfare of its youngest citizens. These children, who should be in school and under the care of their families, are instead being subjected to the harsh realities of a judicial system that seems more intent on punishment than justice. The sight of these young, frail bodies in court, visibly malnourished and traumatized, is a damning indictment of a system that has failed them at every turn. This is not only morally reprehensible but a breach of Nigeria’s commitment to international human rights standards.
To the Nigerian government: every day that these children remain in custody is a reminder of Nigeria’s disregard for the values it claims to uphold. The release of these children, alongside meaningful reform, is the only acceptable path forward. Nigeria’s future depends on how it treats its youth today, and there is no time to waste. The world is watching, and nothing short of an immediate release of these children will begin to repair the damage done to Nigeria’s global standing.