The President General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of children under the age of 18 for over 90 days, followed by their arraignment in court for trial on alleged treason charges, simply for participating in the #Endbadgovernance protest.
The President General described the government’s actions as unacceptable in the context of justice and children’s rights.
According to him, the children, who appeared malnourished and fragile, highlighted the validity of their protest against hunger and should not be used as scapegoats by the government.
He urged the Federal Government to address the hunger and hardship in the country, rather than targeting children legitimately calling for an end to hunger and suffering.
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The President General stated that it is an embarrassment to the international community to see Nigeria clamping down on its own children, who should instead be in school, building a future for the country.
“Such treatment of harmless, impoverished, malnourished, or undernourished minors from northern Nigeria is unacceptable, and the government should cease any further trials of these minors,” he stressed.
