The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has finally released a 16-year-old boy who was detained for three months without trial.
The boy’s release, according to SaharaReporters, follows a report on Friday by the online news platform on the predicament of the teenage schoolboy, who had been in police custody for three months in Enugu State, with authorities demanding N1.2 million as a “settlement.”
In response to the report, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), a human rights organisation based in Enugu State, petitioned Governor Peter Mbah over the unlawful detention.
The group sought urgent intervention, citing a clear violation of the Child Rights Act 2023. The petition, dated January 11, 2024, was addressed to the governor and copied to the State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzoegbu, as well as the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kingsley Udeh.
In the petition signed by the President of CRRAN, Mr Olu Omotayo, the organisation condemned the police action as a violation of the Child Rights Act 2023. They expressed concern that the police’s actions disrupted the academic studies of the Senior Secondary School 2 student, who was arrested on October 9, 2023, and kept incommunicado without being brought to court for any offense.
After the media report, the police reportedly called the parents of the teenager to come and take him. The Force Headquarters also contacted the Commissioner of Police to explain the reason behind the three-month detention without trial and to ascertain if there was any evidence linking the boy to the alleged crime.
Confirming the release of the 16-year-old, CRRAN President Omotayo expressed gratitude to SaharaReporters for bringing attention to the case and exposing the alleged wrongdoings in the Nigerian Police Force.
Omotayo stated, “Thanks so much for your efforts and interventions in respect of this matter. ‘Re: Continued Unlawful Detention Of 16-Year-Old Arinze Nelson Eze AT The State Police Headquarters Enugu Since 9th October 2023; A Clear Violation Of The Child Rights Act 2003.’ The father of the detained boy called me last night that the boy was released from police detention yesterday evening after 3 months’ detention.”
