By Uzair Adam
Former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has voiced strong criticism against the stringent bail conditions imposed on minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, Kwankwaso expressed shock at the arraignment of 67 minors by the Nigeria Police Force at a court in Abuja, describing the move as a violation of basic human rights and dignity.
He highlighted the minors’ apparent malnutrition and urgent need for medical care, arguing that these children should be attending school rather than facing legal proceedings.
Kwankwaso criticized the “cruel experience” these young protesters were subjected to, adding that the imposed bail conditions, which reportedly require a sum of 10 million naira and a grade 15 civil servant as surety, are “absurd” for teenagers.
He called on the government to redirect its efforts toward tackling critical issues such as banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and economic instability, rather than prosecuting minors.
Kwankwaso also referenced the Child’s Rights Act of 2003, stressing its mandate to protect children from all forms of physical, mental, and emotional harm.