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#EndBadGovernance: Northern govs, ACF, others demand minors’ release
•North must wake up, Bala Mohammed charges region, SANs differ on arraigned minors
The governors of Bauchi and Kano States and the Arewa Consultative Forum have demanded the release of the minors facing trial for treason in the Abuja Federal High Court.
Already, Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice to take steps toward securing the release of the minors arrested for allegedly demanding regime change while participating in the #Endbad governance protests in Kano and Kaduna between August 1 to 10.
The state commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Baba Halilu Dantiye, confirmed the development Sunday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had on Friday, arraigned 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, among whom were minors.
Viral videos of the malnourished children sparked outrage with some civil society groups calling for their immediate and unconditional release from detention.
The 76 protesters were arraigned in two batches, 32 of whom were children.
The first batch was arraigned on a 10-count bordering on treason, intent to destabilize Nigeria, inciting to mutiny by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Tinubu, among others.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted N10 million bail each.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Dantiye said the Kano governor demanded the release of the minors via his X handle.
“The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has instructed the state’s Commissioner for Justice to act on the development,’’ the commissioner said.
“My attention has been drawn to the appearance of teenagers (some believed to be from Kano) in court today (Friday) in Abuja.
“The Commissioner of Justice has been instructed to act immediately on the issue. We shall do everything possible to get them back to Kano, Insha Allah,” the governor’s statement read on X.
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, said the North “must wake up” concerning the children arraigned for protesting.
Bala, who posted the admonition on his official Facebook handle on Saturday, expressed concern over the development.
“I was deeply troubled after watching the video of children who were arraigned in court yesterday (Friday), accused of attempting to overthrow the government, theft, and inciting unrest during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
“The visible devastation, hunger, and malnourishment of these children reflect the harsh treatment they face in prison or at the hands of security forces,” he wrote in Hausa.
Bala maintained that the event highlighted how disunited northern leaders are when it comes to issues affecting the region.
“More than anything, it exposes the lack of good governance and the discordant voices that plague the North. As a parent and concerned citizen, I extend my sympathies and urge security agencies and the judiciary to uphold the right to freedom of expression and respect fundamental human rights, “ he said.
Considering the severe economic hardship and inflation in the country, the governor advised that the children should be released immediately.
“It is unreasonable to demand ten million naira in bail from those struggling to afford even one meal a day. Instead, I appeal for leniency, especially for those proven to be innocent. I also call upon our clerics and leaders: #MuTashiMuFarkaYanArewa — We must wake up, fellow Northerners.”
Meanwhile, senior lawyers have expressed divergent opinions on the arraignment of the minors for treason.
Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) said, ‘’I don’t think they are treating those children well. They are not treating them according to the law. All I know is they can’t even convict them of a capital offence, detaining them as long as they have done is unfortunate. CNN reported it where four of them fainted. I do know they can’t convict those below 17 years of age.
“What should be done if a child commits an offence, you release the person to an elder or an adult in the family, you don’t keep a child for such a long time in prison custody. And what is their offence? That they demonstrated. It is quite unfortunate. We are heading towards a one-party dictatorship in Nigeria.
Speaking in the same vein, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), argued that the government has not been able to justify the criminal charges levelled against the minors, describing their arraignment as embarrassing.
He stated, “For a person to be charged with treasonable felony, he must have the means, he must have the capacity and be planning to overthrow the government. So by the Child Rights Act, children who are aged from 13 downwards are not supposed to face regular prosecution in court as adults are supposed to do and again it was against the principles of Federalism for offences to occur in Kaduna State, in Kano State and then the Federal government takes over the prosecution of those offences over and above the powers granted to the attorney General of those States.
“There is a criminal procedure code governing crimes committed in Kaduna State and Kano State and there is no basis for bringing those minors to court in such an embarrassing manner. I call upon the Federal Government to withdraw the charges. Obviously, these children have been in custody since August, September, and October until November 1, when they were arraigned.
“So, there is a case of unlawful custody and detention, and so they should also be compensated and also be tutored and provided opportunity for proper education. This should actually turn into a golden opportunity for the government to change the future and destiny of these children as it has shown that we are dealing with serious cases of out-of-school children which the government has not been able to cater for.’’
Another senior lawyer, Kashopefoluwa Balogun, also submitted that the children should not have been arraigned.
‘’With respect to the general position of law when it comes to minor arraignment, conviction and all of that, because at that age, they are expected to be protected irrespective of the allegation or the crime they are being alleged to have committed. Being children of around 13 years, they are not meant to be openly arraigned with adults.
“There’s a juvenile provision just like it extends to the issue of their detention, they are not meant to be detained with adults because the rationale behind the law is to protect them. The Constitution presumes them to be innocent so you don’t want to expose them to these public issues, this public display, public arraignment whereby at the end of the day some of them will not be found guilty,’’ he affirmed.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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