President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has ordered Investigative Panel being set up to investigate all officers of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF led by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun over the arrest, detention, apparently ill-treatment and arraignment of Minors for treason for protesting against hunger and bad governance in the country in the month of August, 2024.

President Tinubu who ordered immediate and unconditional release of all the minors from the police detention irrespective of the allegations made against them by IGP Kayode Egbetokun led Nigeria Police Force in a statement made available by the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday, said any law enforcement officer found wanting in the handling, arrest and arraignment of the underaged children will be made to face disciplinary action.

It would be recalled that some of the children when arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fainted, forcing the Judge to discontinue the trial and adjourned the case to January, 2025.

Some of the children were looking so malnourished to an extent some of their bones were very visible like living Skeletons after spending more than three months in police detention.

The gory state of the children who were accused of flying Russia flags among others to demonstrate and express their displeasure against the government over hunger in the country and the current life threatening and deadly economic situation in the West Africa nation; caused national and global outrage and condemnation which many described their arrest, detention and arraignment as reckless, irresponsible and callous insensitivity of the government to its constitutional obligations to the people especially minors.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the unconditional release of the children  to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Monday.

The Information Minister, Idris said: “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately.

“Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.

“Thirdly, the President has directed that an administrative committee will be set up immediately, to be headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to examine all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of these young minors.

“Fourthly, the President has also directed that all law enforcement agents involved in the arrest and the legal processes will be investigated, and if any infractions are found to have been committed by any official of Government, whether from a law enforcement agency or another appropriate authority, disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”

According to SaharaReporters, majority of the underage children arraigned before the Abuja Federal High Court on Friday, November 1, were now ill after Nigerian Correctional Service officials rejected them at Kuje Prison.

“SaharaReporters had learnt that following their rejection at Kuje Prison, the malnourished minors were detained by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in a facility meant for adults at the Intelligence Response Team unit in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The kids who were granted bail on stringent terms by Justice Obiora Egwuatu are 24 in number but about 20 of them have been hospitalised at an undisclosed hospital, according to sources.

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.

SaharaReporters learnt that 13 of them were brought to court from IRT cells while others were brought from cells scattered around other Abuja divisions”, according to report by SaharaReporters. 

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

Linkedin Tiktok Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube