House Minority Caucus Demands Compensation For Detained Youths In #EndBadGovernance Protest
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The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called for urgent compensation and reparation for minors who were detained for three months after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August 2024. The lawmakers are demanding a full investigation into the detention, alongside prosecution and punishment for the government officials and agencies responsible.
In a statement issued on Friday, the caucus decried the actions of the police, who held the youths—some as young as 14—on charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and arson. The protestors were detained for a total of 95 days before their eventual release, sparking national and international outrage. The caucus, led by Minority Leader Rep. Kingsley Chinda, has demanded accountability from the government, stressing the need for reparations to mitigate the trauma and hardship caused by the prolonged incarceration.
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“Detaining the youths for 95 days—a period they could have used to pursue their education or vocations—is unacceptable,” the statement read. “We insist that justice be served to prevent such an incident from recurring in the future.”
While praising President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the release of the detained protestors, the Minority Caucus reiterated that the focus must now shift to ensuring the responsible authorities face legal consequences. The statement also underscored the long-lasting impact the detention may have had on the physical and mental health of the youths involved.
“The psychological trauma and health challenges these children may have experienced during their unlawful detention are severe. We call for therapeutic interventions, including medical support, to help reintegrate them into society,” the caucus added.
In a further call for justice, the lawmakers urged that reparation packages be offered to the victims and their families as a means of alleviating the emotional pain and financial hardship caused by their wrongful detention. They also highlighted the importance of providing quality reformatory therapy to help the young detainees recover and rebuild their lives.
The statement was co-signed by Minority Whip Dr. Ali Isa J.C., Deputy Minority Leader R. Aliyu Madaki, and Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi.
