- By Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the release of minors detained by the Nigeria Police in connection with the recent protests against alleged bad governance in the country.
NPO Reports learnt that Tinubu has directed the of directed the Attorney General of the Federation to do everything possible to ensure the immediate release.
This was disclosed Monday evening by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
He said the directive is “without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing.”
Onanuga went on, “The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has also been directed to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families while an investigation has been opened into the circumstances leading to their prolonged detention.
Also, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the President directed that an administrative committee be set up immediately to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and release of the minors.
According to the minister, Tinubu directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and legal processes should be investigated.
He added that anyone found to have committed any infractions, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against them.
Images of the minors who have been detained for about 10 months have sparked outrage within and outside Nigeria after they were brought to court for trial last week.
Many international organisations such as the Amnesty International condemned the arrested and detention of the minors.