Peter Obi, former presidential candidate, has expressed deep concern over the inhumane treatment of 124 protesters, including minors, who appeared in court today.
The young Nigerians were arrested by the federal government for participating in the hunger protests few weeks ago.
In a statement shared on social media, Obi decried the disturbing scenes captured in a video that has sparked widespread outrage.
“These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation,” Obi said.
Obi criticized the federal government for failing to uphold the dignity and welfare of the minors held in custody.
He pointed out that the alleged offence of the detainees was protesting against bad governance, a right guaranteed under Nigeria’s democratic constitution.
“Curiously,” he noted, “most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution, standing as champions of good governance while in opposition.”
The former governor of Anambra State emphasized that every suspect, regardless of the circumstances, deserves to be treated with dignity.
He stressed the importance of human rights and dignity, highlighting Nigeria’s obligations as part of the global community.
Obi also praised the presiding judge for halting the trial, thereby averting what he called a 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 (DSS), and the National Human Rights Commission, to conduct a thorough investigation into the mistreatment of the detained minors.
“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,” Obi concluded.