Olayomi Koiki
Some underage protesters detained by Nigeria police since August – collapsed inside a courtroom in Abuja on Friday morning.
The incident occurred when the minors were brought to the Federal High Court in Abuja from various detention cells of the Nigeria Police Force, including from the Intelligence Response Team unit.
A source accused the authorities of weaponising hunger to torture the protesters for committing no offence other than exercising their constitutional rights.
“A couple of them fainted inside the courtroom because of maltreatment, they have eaten for some days,” the source said.
The protest was against intensifying insecurity and growing poverty occasioned by President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
Trending videos and photos taken at the scene on Friday show some of the young people who have been locked up since August, writhing on the floor of the courtroom, with some of other detainees trying to help them.
In the videos and pictures, a lawyer is seen trying to resuscitate one of the protesters who collapsed while standing in the dock.
The detention of the teenagers was ordered by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte application by the police to keep them in custody for 60 days to conclude their ‘investigation’ against the protesters, who have been accused of attempting to overthrow President Tinubu.
The Network of Abuja Left Groups on Thursday called for the immediate and unconditional release of 76 protesters, including 32 minors, who were arrested during the August demonstrations, dubbed ##EndBadGovernance.
The coalition lamented that the protesters have been languishing in prison custody for months. It condemned President Tinubu’s administration for its suppression of dissenting voices.
The group called on Nigerians not be discouraged in the face of the continued increase in cost of living.