Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker from Kaduna State, has expressed deep concerns over the detention of minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Sani in a tweet on Friday questioned the justification behind their prolonged detention, stating that “What is going to be achieved with the months of detention and arraignment of these poor children, all of whom are at the ages of our children and grandchildren? I appeal to the FG to set them free.”

The minors, who have been held by the Nigeria Police Force since August, collapsed in the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning.

The incident occurred as they were being transported from various police detention cells, including those from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

A source had told Newsmen, “A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment; they have eaten for some days,” alleging that authorities are using hunger as a form of torture against the young protesters for merely exercising their constitutional rights.

Photos and videos from the courtroom depicted the distressing scene, showing some teenagers writhing on the floor while others attempted to assist them.

One lawyer was captured trying to resuscitate a protester who collapsed in the dock.

The detention was mandated by Justice Emeka Nwite, who approved an ex-parte application from the police to keep the minors in custody for 60 days as part of their investigation into the protests, which were aimed at addressing worsening insecurity and hardship attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
On Thursday, the Network of Abuja Left Groups called for the immediate and unconditional release of 76 protesters, including 32 minors.
The coalition had condemned the actions of President Tinubu’s administration as suppressive of dissent, emphasising that the protests are a peaceful expression against the economic distress affecting millions of Nigerians.