Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the prosecution of #EndBadGovernance protesters following the distressing videos of malnourished children seen in a Federal High Court on Friday.
Atiku’s response came through a statement from his media team in Abuja and a post on his official X account. Reports indicate that 76 protesters were presented before Justice Obiora Egwuatum, having been arrested during the nationwide demonstrations from August 1 to 10. These protests were ignited by severe economic difficulties, prompting many Nigerians to voice their discontent publicly.
The arrested protesters were from various states, including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano, and faced charges of treason among other offenses. Notably, four of the detained individuals, who were minors, were swiftly removed from the courtroom after appearing unable to stand.
Atiku expressed concern over the sight of these children, likening it to the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. He emphasized that their treatment constitutes a violation of the Child’s Rights Act, which protects children from physical, mental, or emotional harm, as well as torture and inhumane punishment.
“If they are just being arraigned three months later, one can only imagine the dehumanizing conditions they have endured during their detention,” Atiku remarked. He criticized the government, stating, “It is reprehensible that a man who claims to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy now demonizes those who protest against the impacts of his harsh policies.”
The PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election highlighted that children, being the most affected by such policies, have a constitutional right to protest peacefully. He concluded that a nation’s treatment of its most vulnerable citizens reflects its moral standing, expressing sorrow that even children are not exempt from the government’s cruelty. The dismal conditions under which the minors were brought to court reinforce the reasons behind their protests.
