AYCF President Slams Arrest and Trial of Minors in #EndBadGovernance Protests

By Emmanuel Okorie

The President General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, has strongly condemned the arrest, detention, and trial of minors under 18 for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests. Shettima described the government’s actions as unacceptable and a clear violation of children’s rights.

Shettima emphasized that these malnourished and frail children, who are advocating for an end to hunger and suffering, should not be used as scapegoats by the government. Instead, he urged the Federal Government to address the root causes of hunger and hardship in the country. “The government should focus on arresting hunger and hardship, not children who are legitimately asking for a better future,” Shettima stressed [1).

The AYCF President’s statement comes after reports of minors being detained for over 90 days and facing trial for alleged treason. He called on the government to stop further trials of these minors, emphasizing that such treatment of harmless, impoverished, and malnourished children is unacceptable.

Shettima also highlighted the international embarrassment caused by Nigeria’s actions, pointing out that these children should be in school, building a future for their country, rather than facing trial. This incident has sparked concerns about the protection of children’s rights and the government’s response to peaceful protests in Nigeria.

The #EndBadGovernance protests began on July 29, 2024, with demonstrators demanding an end to economic hardship and bad governance in Nigeria ¹. The protests escalated on August 1, 2024, when Nigerian security agencies attempted to quell them, resulting in casualties and arrests.

Key Concerns:

• Protection of Children’s Rights: The arrest and trial of minors under 18 for participating in peaceful protests.
• Government Response: The use of force to quell protests and the detention of harmless, impoverished, and malnourished children.
• International Embarrassment: Nigeria’s actions have sparked international concern and criticism.

The AYCF President’s statement has added to the growing calls for the government to address the root causes of hunger and hardship in Nigeria and to protect the rights of all citizens, including children.