Three minors detained in Borno State for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest remain in custody despite a recent directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calling for their immediate release.
Naijaonpoint reports that President Tinubu issued the directive three days ago, which resulted in the release of minors detained in Abuja.
However, the minors in Borno State are still held at a juvenile facility in Maiduguri, as confirmed by their defense counsel, Barrister Yakubu Alhaji Adamu, who cited an existing court order as the reason for their continued detention.
The minors had been brought before Justice Aisha Mohammed Ali at the State High Court 10 in Maiduguri, where they pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Following their plea, the judge ordered their remand at the juvenile facility and scheduled the next hearing for November 18, 2024.
Salamtu Idrisa from the Public Prosecutions Office at the Borno State Ministry of Justice indicated that no formal communication regarding the release of the minors had been received.
“If there is any update on their release, we will be informed,” she stated.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, expressed gratitude towards President Bola Tinubu for his swift intervention, which led to the release of 76 minors detained in connection with the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
According to the Emir, these children, many of whom were students, were held under harsh conditions that endangered their lives until Tinubu ordered their immediate release.
The Emir voiced his concern that many of these children were not even involved in the protests, noting that they were simply on their way to school or in public areas when arrested.