Amnesty International has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, urging it to prioritize addressing hunger and malnutrition instead of detaining and prosecuting minors. The organization’s outcry comes amid the disturbing treatment of four malnourished minors who collapsed in a courtroom in Abuja while facing trial.
These children, in their early teens, were arrested for participating in protests against the country’s crippling economic situation. Their frail bodies bear witness to the dire conditions they’ve endured in jail. The protests were sparked by desperation and poverty, with millions of Nigerians struggling to survive amidst soaring prices and a plunging naira.
Experts argue that the government’s policies, dictated by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have exacerbated poverty and widened the gap between the rich and the poor. Instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis, the administration is persecuting the youth who dare to demand a better future.
The Consequences of Government Policies
- Rising Inflation: Prices are skyrocketing, leaving families unable to afford basic necessities.
- Disappearing Middle Class: The economic squeeze is erasing the middle class, pushing more people into poverty.
- Crushing Poverty: The poor are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with no respite in sight.
Amnesty International’s warning highlights the government’s misplaced priorities. Rather than prosecuting minors, the administration should focus on providing food, opportunity, and security to its citizens. The organization demands the immediate release of the detained children and an end to the inhumane treatment of minors who dare to speak out against systemic injustice.