The Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, has confirmed that the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested and have in custody minors over the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

Galadanchi made the confirmation while speaking at the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos, when he was confronted by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, over the arrest and detention of minors aged 14-17 years in their homes for allegedly involving in #EndBadGovernance protests.

The DIG however claimed that the Nigeria Police Force respected fundamental human rights of Nigerians and that the majority of over 120 Nigerians arrested and held in police custody were those who displayed Russian flags and shouted “topple government.”

Galadanchi also denied that the minors and many other detained individuals arrested over the hunger, hardship and bad governance protest were arrested in their homes by security operatives who invaded their homes.
“The one hundred and twenty-something persons we have in custody, most are the ones that carried Russian flags and were shouting, ‘we will topple the government’.”

The police boss was greeted with uproar of “no! no! no!” by the crowd at the conference.
Confronted by Adeyanju with the fact of a 16-year-old minor arrested in Kano State whose mother, according to Adeyanju, confirmed he was arrested in their home, and others including a woman who was arrested in her home in Abuja in the presence of her husband and children, Galadanchi said he would not deny that the police arrested minors but questioned how Adeyanju and other Nigerians confirmed that the protesters were arrested in their homes.

“I’m not saying we didn’t arrest minors but what investigation did you carry and how did you confirm that these persons were taken from their houses?”
SaharaReporters had reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja secretly granted the Nigeria Police Force’s request to remand at least 22 Nigerian minors aged 14-17 in custody for 60 days over their involvement in the August 1-10 nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, pending the completion of investigations.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the police request in response to separate ex-parte motions filed by police counsel Ibrahim Mohammed, thereby allowing for the minors’ arrested during the protest to remain in detention.
The court directed that the minors be held at the Borstal Home of the correctional centre until the investigation is concluded.

The minors include Muktar Ishaq Alhassan, 16; Sani Aliyu, 17; Mahmud Mustapha, 16; Umar Abdullahi, 17; Habibu Sani, 17; Mustapha Abubakar, 17; Sani Hassan Idris, 17; Abdulrahaman Ibrahim, 17; and Salisu Adamu, 16.
Others are Bilal Auwalu, 15; Amir Muhd, 17; Abdul’aziz Adam, 15; Sadiq Sunusi, 15; Ibrahim Sani, 17; Hassan Muhd, 17; Saifullahi Muhd, 15; Umar Ali, 17; Musa Isyaku, 15; Muhd Musa, 14; Usman Amiru, 14; Abdulganiyu Musa, 15 and Sunusi Nura, 14.

Newsmen had reported that on August 14, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an ex-parte motion (FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2024) filed by Mr. Mohammed on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.
The motion, dated August 8 and filed on August 9, sought the remand of 75 protesters, aged 14-34, for 60 days pending investigation and legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Also, in the second ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1223/2024, moved by Mr Mohammed on Thursday, Mr Nwite ordered another set of 49 defendants to be remanded for 60 days pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The protesters are accused of committing acts of terrorism, treason, and related felonies, including arson and terrorism. The alleged offenses contravene various sections of Nigerian laws, including: Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 (Sections 2(1) and (3), 24, and 26), Criminal Code Act (Sections 41 and 42), Penal Code Act (Sections 410, 411, and 412) and Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.