In Nigeria, twenty-nine children may face the death penalty after being arraigned on charges related to a protest against the country’s severe cost-of-living crisis. Four of the minors collapsed in court from exhaustion before they could enter a plea.
A total of 76 protesters were charged with ten felony offenses, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny, according to the charge sheet reviewed by The Associated Press. The minors involved are between the ages of 14 and 17.
Recent months have seen growing frustration over the cost-of-living crisis, leading to significant protests. In August, demonstrators demanding better job opportunities resulted in at least 20 fatalities and hundreds of arrests.
The death penalty has been a part of Nigeria’s legal system since the 1970s, but the country has not executed anyone since 2016.
Legal expert Akintayo Balogun criticized the proceedings, arguing that the Child Rights Act prohibits children from being subjected to criminal charges leading to the death penalty. “Bringing minors before a federal high court is inherently wrong unless the government proves they are all over 19,” he stated.
The court granted bail of 10 million naira ($5,900) to each defendant, imposing strict conditions that have yet to be met, according to Marshal Abubakar, counsel for some of the boys. He expressed outrage that a nation responsible for educating its youth would choose to punish them, emphasizing that the children have been detained for 90 days without adequate food.
Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a civil society organization advocating for governance reform, condemned the prosecution of children, stating, “The chief justice of Nigeria should be ashamed, as a woman and a mother.”
Despite being one of Africa’s leading crude oil producers, Nigeria remains one of the world’s poorest countries, plagued by chronic corruption that creates a stark contrast between the lifestyle of public officials and the general population. The inflation rate has reached a 28-year high, and the naira currency has fallen to record lows against the dollar.
On Thursday, the United Nations classified Nigeria as a “hotspot of very high concern,” indicating that large numbers of people are experiencing or are projected to face critical levels of food insecurity in the country.
Credit: ABC News
