Ex-PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Slams Tinubu’s ‘Nazi-Like’ Treatment Of Minors: Calls Treason Charges Against Children A National Disgrace

Atiku cited Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, particularly Section 11, which guarantees every child’s right to dignity and prohibits all forms of abuse, torture, and degrading treatment. He criticized the government’s alleged violation of these legal protections, stating that children who peacefully protest, especially over policies that impact their lives, should not be criminalized. He expressed particular concern about the three-month delay in arraigning the children, which he believes indicates prolonged neglect and possible abuse during their detention.

Furthermore, Atiku highlighted what he called the hypocrisy of President Tinubu, who once led protests in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy but now criminalizes youth for exercising their democratic rights. He argued that children impacted by economic policies should be allowed to express their grievances peacefully and warned that the government’s punitive approach undermines fundamental democratic principles.

Atiku’s statement echoes a growing chorus of human rights advocates who demand accountability and the immediate release of the detained minors. He called on the administration to end its heavy-handed tactics against protesters, asserting that the mistreatment of these children only reinforces the reasons behind their protest. Atiku urged the government to prioritize human rights and dignity, especially for Nigeria’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens.