The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners’ Forum has condemned the recent detention and alleged abuse of minors and young adults involved in protests against governance issues in Nigeria. The organization labeled the actions by law enforcement as “cruel and irresponsible,” asserting that the event has ignited both national and global condemnation. According to the forum, the incident mars Nigeria’s democratic image and underscores concerning trends in the current administration.
In a statement by its chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa (Ajiyan Yauri), the forum expressed deep outrage and disappointment upon seeing young, visibly traumatized and malnourished individuals brought to an Abuja court to face charges of treason. The organization argued that such charges are grossly inflated, especially given that many of the detained youth may have attended the protests out of curiosity or youthful enthusiasm rather than any intent to harm the state.
The forum criticized the government’s approach, stating that these young people were exercising their constitutionally protected right to peaceful assembly. Yelwa questioned the credibility of government claims about uncovering financiers behind the protests, emphasizing that prosecuting young citizens over allegations they may not even understand is both “laughable and tragic.” The organization called for the immediate release of the detainees and urged the government to focus on identifying and prosecuting any actual instigators, should they exist.
Highlighting an erosion of citizens’ rights under President Bola Tinubu, the forum noted that government institutions like the judiciary, police, and other security services, designed to protect the public, are increasingly being used as tools of repression. Yelwa emphasized that the alarming trend has extended to media freedom, with journalists facing frequent arrests without clear cause. The forum also echoed recent warnings from the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) regarding growing restrictions on press freedom.
The statement attributed rising social unrest directly to government policies, which it said have intensified economic hardship for the average Nigerian. The forum noted that rampant poverty and hunger are daily challenges for millions, with citizens feeling increasingly unheard and neglected by a government that appears disconnected from their suffering. This economic reality, it warned, will continue to drive people to protest unless meaningful change occurs.
The organization urged the administration to honor Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations’ Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The forum underscored that the sight of exhausted, traumatized, and impoverished young people facing charges of treason is an affront to democratic values and human rights.
To address the crisis, the forum called on President Tinubu, security agencies, and the judiciary to order the immediate release of the 76 detainees, particularly the minors who reportedly collapsed in court, and to provide them with urgent medical care, potentially abroad if necessary. It also recommended that the government examine and address the broader causes of public discontent and reverse policies that exacerbate hardship.
The forum concluded by demanding a public apology and compensation for the detained youth, calling on the government to restore the independence of key institutions and uphold the rule of law. It urged Nigerians to continue standing against human rights abuses and to assert their democratic rights in the face of injustice.
