BREAKING: Malnourished Minors Detained Over #EndBadGovernance Protests Collapse In Abuja High Court During Arraignment
Several underage protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations and detained by the Nigeria Police Force since August collapsed inside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning. These minors, reportedly detained under harsh conditions, fainted upon entering the courtroom, where they had been brought from various police detention cells, including the Intelligence Response Team unit.
According to sources speaking to Fushion Chronicles Nigeria, the minors had not eaten in days, suffering maltreatment and deprivation in custody. Observers accuse authorities of using hunger as a tool to punish the young detainees, who were arrested for peacefully protesting poor governance—a right enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. The protests had highlighted growing concerns over insecurity and economic hardship exacerbated by the policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Images and videos from Friday’s court session show some of the detained teenagers lying on the floor, visibly distressed and needing assistance from fellow detainees. In one image, a lawyer can be seen attempting to revive a minor who collapsed while standing in the dock.
The detention of these minors followed an order by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte application allowing police to hold them for 60 days to complete their “investigation” into allegations of a plot to overthrow President Tinubu. Thirteen of the minors were reportedly brought from IRT cells, while others came from different detention centers across Abuja.
In response, the Network of Abuja Left Groups issued a statement on Thursday demanding the immediate and unconditional release of 76 protesters, including 32 minors, who were detained during the August #EndBadGovernance protests. The coalition criticized the Tinubu administration for suppressing dissent and urged Nigerians to continue voicing their grievances, despite the worsening cost of living. They defended the protests as a peaceful, unifying movement of Nigerians from diverse backgrounds, aimed at addressing systemic economic and governance failures affecting millions daily.
