The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release detained protesters from the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, including 32 children reportedly held in dire conditions. SERAP requested that Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi take immediate steps for their unconditional release, stressing the detentions are solely for peaceful protest actions. SERAP’s letter highlighted that the children, who should be attending school, are instead detained, hungry, and malnourished, violating their right to education and dignity.
In an open letter dated November 2, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare urged the government to take action within 48 hours, warning that failure to respond could lead to legal action. SERAP’s letter, also addressed to Dr. Matthew Gillett of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, condemned the “climate of fear” created by these arrests, arguing it infringes on the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. SERAP called for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses in detention, emphasizing that children deserve special protection under the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The detained protesters, who were arrested in various Nigerian states, face charges including treason and incitement to mutiny. However, SERAP insists that the protests were peaceful, aimed at raising awareness about economic challenges and poor governance. They noted that some detained children collapsed in court due to poor conditions, adding urgency to their call for humane treatment aligned with international standards.