After their appearance in court on Friday, President Bola Ahmed TINUBU through his Information Minister, Mohammed Idris has called for the immediate release of minors apprehended during the August protests in Nigeria.He was speaking on Monday adding that the over 30 minors were granted bail on Friday.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has granted presidential pardon to all minors detained during anti-government protests in August. According to Information Minister Mohammed Idris on Monday, the president Tinubu has ordered for them to be freed and treason charges against them dropped.
« The President has directed that these children, these minors, be released immediately, » Idris said.
The minors were granted bail on Friday and their trial was set to begin in January.
Reports show that over 76 people, including 30 minors, were charged with treason and inciting a military coup after they took part in deadly August protests against economic hardship and bad governance in the west African nation.
The arraignment of minors had sparked public outrage and criticism of the government after they were paraded in court last Friday.
In August, thousands of Nigerians protested in the commercial capital Lagos, Abuja, and several other cities against Tinubu’s economic reforms that have heightened inflation and led to the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
As per President Tinubu, he vowed to pursue the changes as he says, there are needed to keep the country afloat.
Amnesty International said at least 22 people died during the demonstrations in clashes with security forces in Africa’s most populous nation.
