Today, a Nigerian court began hearing the case of minors detained for protesting against the government, held for over three months by security agencies.

The young detainees, accused of attempting to overthrow the government, showed signs of severe malnutrition and were rushed to the hospital due to poor health. Their lawyer, Barrister Mashal Abubakar, expressed concern over their detention conditions, noting that some had collapsed in the courtroom. Detained since August 2, 2024, they have been held without adequate care or sufficient food, a situation Abubakar condemned as a violation of their fundamental rights as children.

“Nigerian law mandates that the government must educate and care for children,” Abubakar stated, referencing Section 18 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Universal Basic Education Act. He revealed that the children were held at Kuje Correctional Center and IRC facilities, allegedly deprived of education and proper nutrition. "How can defenseless children be seen as a threat to the government?" he asked, explaining that their protest was simply a call against hunger.

Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju also condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of injustice. He highlighted that while these children have been detained for 90 days, prominent suspects have escaped without arrest. "Nigeria has two systems of justice—one for the wealthy and one for the poor," Adeyanju said, adding that the prolonged detention contravenes the law, which requires suspects to be released or charged within 48 hours.

Advocates have called on the Minister of Justice to intervene and release the children so they can return to school. “The world is watching how we handle such injustices,” Adeyanju said, urging an end to what he described as persecution against children.

As these detained minors suffer from food shortages and prolonged incarceration, the country faces a crucial question: will justice prevail, granting these children their rights, or will they remain casualties of a failing system?