In a shocking development, twenty-nine Nigerian children are facing the death penalty after being arraigned for participating in protests against the country’s escalating cost-of-living crisis. The children, aged between 14 and 17, were among 76 protesters charged with multiple felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny.
The arraignment took place in Abuja, where four of the children collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they could enter a plea. “These children have been in detention for 90 days without food,” said Marshal Abubakar, counsel to some of the boys. The court granted bail set at 10 million naira ($5,900) for each defendant, imposing stringent conditions that have yet to be met.
The protests, driven by frustration over the cost-of-living crisis, have seen several mass demonstrations in recent months. In August, at least 20 people were shot dead, and hundreds more were arrested during a protest demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people. Despite being one of Africa’s top crude oil producers, Nigeria remains one of the world’s poorest countries, plagued by chronic corruption and economic disparity.
Legal experts and civil society organizations have condemned the prosecution of minors. Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer based in Abuja, stated, “The Child Rights Act does not allow any child to be subject to criminal proceedings and sentenced to death. Taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years.” Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a civil society organization promoting good governance in Nigeria, added, “The chief justice of Nigeria should be ashamed, she is a woman and a mother.”
The death penalty, introduced in Nigeria in the 1970s, has not been enforced since 2016. However, the current situation has sparked outrage and calls for the government to uphold the rights of children and address the underlying issues driving the protests. “A country that has a duty to educate its children will decide to punish those children,” Abubakar emphasised.
Nigeria’s population of over 210 million people is among the hungriest in the world, with the government struggling to create jobs and provide basic services. The lifestyle of public officials, often accused of corruption, rarely mirrors that of the general population, further fueling public discontent.
As the legal proceedings continue, the international community watches closely, urging Nigeria to adhere to its commitments to human rights and the protection of minors.
