Following the parade of young peoplemany of whom were famished and terrified, some of whom were even juveniles—before an Abuja court on allegations of high treason, the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners' Forum joined Nigerians in voicing indignation and amazement.
In a powerful statement, the Forum condemned the police action as an “irresponsible act of inhumanity,” sparking “national and international outrage” and marking a “stain” on Nigeria’s identity as a democratic nation.
Forum Chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa (Ajiyan Yauri) said, "We strongly condemn this cruel treatment against fellow Nigerians, whose only ‘crime’ was exercising their constitutional right to protest."
Highlighting the absurdity, Yelwa added, “The government’s claim of identifying sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protest makes the prosecution of these boys—likely innocent bystanders or curious attendees—both laughable and tragic.”
The Forum called on the Federal Government to urgently:
1. Hold accountable those responsible for the detention and mistreatment of these children.
2. Uphold citizens' rights, as critical institutions—judiciary, police, security services—meant to protect Nigerians are now “tools of oppression,” with even journalists facing unjust arrests, as noted by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON).
The Forum warned that Nigeria under President Tinubu is rapidly becoming a police state where citizens' rights are disregarded.
They directly linked the country's current social unrest to what they see as the harmful policies of the President, leaving Nigerians impoverished and, sadly, starving.
Yelwa emphasized, “People will keep protesting if the government remains indifferent to their suffering.” He urged President Tinubu to release the detained protesters and prosecute any genuine sponsors of the unrest if identified.
He added, “These tormented, hungry boys—fighting for food in a court of law—could not possibly be high treason suspects.”
The Forum further called on the President, security agencies, and judiciary to:
Release the 76 detainees and guarantee their well-being, arranging urgent overseas medical care for the four minors who collapsed in court.
Investigate and address the root causes of the unrest, and respect citizens' rights, preserving the independence of the judiciary.
Reverse policies that have led to widespread hardship and poverty.
Finally, the Forum demanded an apology and adequate compensation for the victims. “We urge all Nigerians to stand firm against injustice and the violation of human rights,” the statement concluded.