Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed deep concern over the mistreatment of 124 protesters, including minors, who appeared in court today. The young Nigerians were arrested by the federal government for participating in hunger protests a few weeks ago ¹.
Obi took to social media to decry the disturbing scenes captured in a video that has sparked widespread outrage. “These children appeared visibly malnourished and starved—a condition that should alarm the conscience of every citizen in our nation,” he said.
Obi criticized the federal government for failing to uphold the dignity and welfare of the minors held in custody. He pointed out that the alleged offense of the detainees was protesting against bad governance, a right guaranteed under Nigeria’s democratic constitution. “Curiously, most of the people in government today leveraged this aspect of the Constitution, standing as champions of good governance while in opposition,” he noted.
Obi emphasized that every suspect, regardless of the circumstances, deserves to be treated with dignity. He stressed the importance of human rights and dignity, highlighting Nigeria’s obligations as part of the global community. The former governor of Anambra State praised the presiding judge for halting the trial, averting further embarrassment for the nation.
Obi urged key authorities, including:
– _Minister of Justice_
– _Attorney General of the Federation_
– _Police_
– _Department of State Services (DSS)_
– _National Human Rights Commission_
to conduct a thorough investigation into the mistreatment of the detained minors.
Obi concluded, “The reason why we should all be concerned about a situation like this is because we are part of a global community where human dignity should be respected.” His statement echoes the need for Nigerians to stand up for their rights and demand accountability from their government.
