Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate, has condemned the federal government’s inhumane treatment of 124 protesters, including minors, who were arrested for participating in the EndBadGovernance protests.
“These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation,” Obi said, criticizing the government’s failure to uphold the dignity and welfare of the minors in custody. He emphasized that the alleged offense of the detainees was protesting against bad governance, a right guaranteed under Nigeria’s democratic constitution.
Obi noted that many government officials today were once champions of good governance while in opposition, leveraging the same constitutional rights they now deny to others. “Every suspect, regardless of the circumstances, deserves to be treated with dignity,” he stressed, highlighting Nigeria’s obligations to respect human rights and dignity as part of the global community.
The former Anambra State governor praised the presiding judge for halting the trial, averting further embarrassment for the nation. He urged key authorities, including the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Police, the Department of State Services, and the National Human Rights Commission, to conduct a thorough investigation into the mistreatment of the detained minors.
Obi concluded, “The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.”
