The National Leadership of the Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa), on behalf of the Nineteen Northern States Chapters, revealed in a press release made available to Journalists in Kano signed by the Chairman Dr. Ali Idir Muhammad and Secretary General, Dr. Garba Abdulhafiz
The statement read, ” We unequivocally express our dismay over the content of a viral video showing, some underage children looking hungry, depressed, dog-tired and malnourished, arraigned before the high court in Abuja, on the charges of raising a foreign flag during the end bad governance protest held on 1st to 10th August, 2024 across the Country.
However, It is our adamant belief that the event at the court was nothing but yet additional damage done on the little integrity left of the Nigerian Judiciary and the Nigerian criminal administration system, as a whole.”
This has, therefore, constituted what could be best described as devastating, heartbreaking, pathetic, and appalling, to say the least.”
Furthermore, “The Nigerian criminal law, has provided that, all criminal cases must be presented before the courts not later than 48 hours, and anything contrary to this may amount to an infringement on the fundamental rights of any suspect, except on some conditions, especially under the strict instructions of a competent court of law. The continued detention of those helpless and poor children by the Federal Government authorities is not only a blatant disregard for the provisions of the laws of the land but also a deliberate scheme to destroy the future of those young people or even jeopardize their lives.” He added.
Raising foreign flags by the citizens of a particular country during a protest has become a global practice, and it indicates nothing but a practical dissatisfaction of the citizens towards the Government of the day.”
“It is our understanding that this Government has assumed the status of an undemocratic regime which has no regard for the written or extant laws of the land, and systematically transforming the Government into an authoritarian administration, characterized by nepotism, favoritism, and ill feelings against some particular sections of the country.”
Similarly, “It could be recalled that, a few weeks ago, the Yoruba Nation agitation advocate, Mr. Sunday Igboho, organized and led a protest in London, declaring their open resolution to separate from Nigeria and announcing their commitment towards the establishment of a Yoruba Nation.
In addition, Mr. Sunday Igboho, equally submitted a petition to the UK Prime Minister, seeking his support to actualize the agitation for the Yoruba Nation, and yet nobody has been arrested till now, looking at the gravity and implications of their actions, except for some minors who raised some foreign flags at the behest of the mastermind and sponsors, which none has also been arrested or exposed by the Nigerian security operatives.”
To my understanding, ” The APC Government began the trial of minors, who were arrested in August for participation in a protest against the APC’s poor governance.
Unfortunately, some of these young protesters appeared in court visibly malnourished, and many of them were seen collapsed due to severe hunger and sickness after enduring a prolonged detention of over 90 days, by the Nigerian authorities. The sight of these starving youths, detained simply for speaking out or participating in the national protest, is an affront to the criminal justice system, humanity, and democracy.”
It is both unacceptable and deeply disquieting that children, minors, and young Nigerians have been held since August on the allegation that they had sought to destabilize the government. These allegations are not only unfounded but also reveal a disturbing disregard for the rights and welfare of these young people as Nigerians
It is on this note, that we wish to implore His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to order the withdrawal of all the charges and the release of those boys unconditionally, to avoid further embarrassment to the Government and the Nigerian criminal justice system, in the interest of fairness, upholding rule of law and principles of democracy