President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has instructed the immediate release of 29 minors who are facing the death penalty after their arrest related to protests against the severe cost-of-living challenges currently affecting the nation.

Amid escalating pressure from human rights advocates, the President has also mandated an investigation into the actions of law enforcement officials involved in the wrongful apprehension and prosecution of these youths. This information was shared by Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, during a press briefing held in Abuja. The children are expected to be released following a court order issued on Tuesday.

These minors, aged between 14 and 17, have been in detention since August and were part of a larger group of over 70 individuals faced with serious charges, including treason, property destruction, and mutiny, stemming from protests that erupted after government policies heightened economic difficulties in the country.

During a recent court appearance, four of the minors collapsed from exhaustion. Many others showed signs of malnutrition and distress, huddled together in the courtroom, while some were forced to sit on the floor. There had been no prior word regarding their detention until their court hearing, which has ignited public outrage and raised fresh alarms over the deteriorating state of human rights in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa.

A local court had imposed strict conditions alongside a bail of 10 million naira (approximately $5,900) for each child, a sum that none of them could afford to pay.

It remains uncertain whether the minors actually participated in the protests that were a response to the dire circumstances many Nigerians are facing due to the government’s controversial economic measures aimed at alleviating costs and stabilizing a faltering economy.

Amnesty International’s Nigeria branch reported that the children experienced severe mistreatment during their detention, underscoring the demands of several advocacy groups for their immediate release.

The situation concerning the arrest of these children reveals profound weaknesses within Nigeria’s criminal justice system, particularly regarding the treatment of minors. Funke Adeoye, the founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, a nonprofit organization advocating for the rights of the detained children, remarked on the systemic issues undermining the protection of minors’ rights in the country.