Nigerian activist VeryDarkMan has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for intervening and ordering the release of minors who were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August. The activist’s appreciation came after President Tinubu directed their release following a wave of public outrage over the treatment of the detained minors.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the announcement during a briefing at the State House in Abuja on Monday, November 4. He stated that President Tinubu had issued clear instructions for law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest, detention, and prosecution of the minors to be thoroughly investigated. “Anyone found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary actions,” Idris confirmed.
The decision to release the minors came after shocking footage surfaced showing the young detainees looking emaciated and physically weak, with some even collapsing while being arraigned in the Abuja High Court last Friday. The videos sparked widespread condemnation and concern from both local and international observers.
In response to the distressing images, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to take immediate action to ensure the well-being of the minors. This directive was seen as a critical step in addressing the humanitarian aspects of the situation, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of vulnerable individuals.
VeryDarkMan, who had been vocal about the plight of the minors, took to his Instagram page to thank President Tinubu for the timely intervention. “I just want to say thank you to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ordering the immediate release of the minors detained for over 94 days for the hunger protest,” he said in a video posted on his account on Monday. He also expressed his gratitude to the lawyers who defended the minors, crediting them for their dedication and hard work.
The activist also revealed that he had initially planned to set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the minors’ bail, but with the President’s intervention, that plan was no longer necessary. “I was planning to start a GoFundMe account for their bail, but now, with the release order, we can focus on ensuring they get the care and support they need,” VeryDarkMan explained in the video.
In the video caption, VeryDarkMan reiterated his appreciation, writing, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered for the immediate release of the minors detained for over 94 days for the hunger protest.”
