The president general of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima has condemned in strong terms the arrest and detention of children below the age of 18 for over 90 days, and subsequent arraignment in court for trial over alleged treason because they participated in the #Endbadgovernance protest.
The president-general described the government’s actions as unacceptable in the face of justice for the rights of children.
According to him, the children who appeared malnourished gave credence to their protest against hunger, and they should not be used as scapegoats by the government.
He urged the federal government to arrest hunger and hardship in the land, not children legitimately asking for an end to hunger and suffering.
The president general said it is an embarrassment to the international community, seeing Nigeria clamping down on her own children, who should rather be in school and build a future for our country.
“Such treatment of harmless, impoverished, malnourished or undernourished minors from northern Nigerian origin is not acceptable and the government should stop any further trial of. these minors,” he stressed.
