Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, has confirmed that the police, in conjunction with the Department of State Services (DSS), have detained minors for their involvement in recent #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.
The confirmation came during the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos, where human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju confronted DIG Galadanchi. Adeyanju accused the police of arresting and detaining minors aged 14 to 17 in their homes, alleging their participation in the protests.
In response, Galadanchi insisted that the Nigeria Police Force respects the fundamental human rights of Nigerians. He noted that most of the over 120 people currently in custody were apprehended for displaying Russian flags and calling for the government’s overthrow. He denied claims that security operatives had invaded homes to arrest minors and other protesters.
āThe individuals we have in custody are mainly those who were waving Russian flags and chanting, āWe will topple the government,āā Galadanchi stated, provoking a chorus of āNo! No! No!ā from the conference attendees.
Adeyanju pressed further, citing specific cases, including a 16-year-old boy in Kano whose mother claimed he was arrested at home, and a woman in Abuja who was detained in front of her family. Although Galadanchi did not deny the arrests of minors, he questioned the evidence suggesting these individuals were taken from their homes. āIām not saying we didnāt arrest minors, but how did you confirm they were taken from their houses?ā he queried.
According to earlier reports from SaharaReporters, the Federal High Court in Abuja had secretly approved the Nigeria Police Force’s request to detain at least 22 minors, aged 14-17, for 60 days, pending further investigation into their involvement in the August 1-10 #EndBadGovernance protests. Justice Emeka Nwite granted this request in response to motions filed by police counsel Ibrahim Mohammed, authorizing the continued detention of these minors at the Borstal Home correctional facility.
Among the detained minors are Muktar Ishaq Alhassan, 16; Sani Aliyu, 17; Mahmud Mustapha, 16; and others, all accused of crimes such as terrorism and treason, which are punishable under Nigerian law. The legal motions presented by the police sought the remand of a total of 75 protesters, aged 14-34, for 60 days while awaiting further legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation.
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