Twenty-nine children in Nigeria, ages 14 to 17, could face the death penalty after being arraigned on Friday for participating in a protest against the nation’s severe cost-of-living crisis. During the hearing, four of the minors reportedly collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they were able to enter their pleas.
A total of 76 protesters were charged with ten felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny, according to documents seen by The Associated Press. Protests over economic hardships have intensified in recent months. In one August protest, at least 20 people were fatally shot, and hundreds more were arrested while demanding jobs and economic relief for young people.
Debate Over Legality of Death Penalty for Minors
The Child Rights Act, according to Akintayo Balogun, a lawyer in Abuja, prohibits minors from being tried and sentenced to death. “Taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years,” Balogun explained.
The court has granted each of the defendants bail set at 10 million naira ($5,900), though stringent conditions have left the young protesters struggling to meet the requirements. Marshal Abubakar, a lawyer representing some of the boys, criticized the prolonged detention conditions, stating, “These children have been in detention for 90 days without food.”
Outcry Over Treatment of Minors and Government Accountability
Civil society groups and activists have expressed outrage over the arrests. Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a Nigerian organization advocating for good governance, argued that authorities should not be prosecuting children. She also criticized the Nigerian chief justice for allowing such proceedings to occur, saying, “The chief justice of Nigeria should be ashamed. She is a woman and a mother.”
Nigeria’s Economic Crisis and Social Unrest
Despite being one of Africa’s leading oil producers, Nigeria remains one of the world’s poorest nations due to chronic corruption. Public officials enjoy some of the highest salaries in Africa, in stark contrast to the general population’s struggles. The inflation rate is at a 28-year high, the local naira currency has hit record lows, and food insecurity has reached critical levels.
A recent report from UN food agencies classified Nigeria as a “hotspot of very high concern” as millions of Nigerians are facing severe food shortages. In a country of over 210 million people—Africa’s most populous—government efforts to create jobs and stabilize the economy have largely fallen short, leading to mounting unrest and dissatisfaction across the nation.