Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has voiced his shock and deep concern over the arraignment of 67 minors by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.

These children, reportedly arrested for participating in the End Bad Governance protest, appear to be visibly malnourished and in need of medical care.

According to Kwankwaso, these minors have been forced to undergo an experience no child should face, especially when they should be in school, learning, and growing up with proper support.

The arraignment itself, he highlighted, brings attention to the vulnerability of minors and the importance of protecting children from such distressing circumstances.

The sheer number of children involved is unprecedented, he added and goes against principles of human rights and dignity.

“As leaders,” Kwankwaso emphasized, “we must protect the most vulnerable among us, particularly children, women, the elderly, and those in need.”

He underlined that the government should not be involved in actions that contradict this commitment to protection.

Adding to his concerns was the stringent bail condition imposed on the minors.

One of the requirements involves a 10-million-naira bond and the provision of a Grade 15 civil servant as surety—an almost impossible expectation for teenagers and their families.

Such conditions, Kwankwaso pointed out, are absurd and only add to the burden on families already struggling under Nigeria’s economic pressures.

The Child’s Rights Act of 2003 stands as a critical foundation for Kwankwaso’s argument.

Section 11 of the Act guarantees every child’s dignity and protection from physical, mental, and emotional harm.

According to Kwankwaso, these minors have experienced neglect, and such treatment goes against everything the Act is designed to uphold.

He called for an immediate review of the charges against the children to allow them to return to their families and pursue a responsible life.

Kwankwaso also urged the Federal Government to focus on more pressing issues, including banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram insurgency, and Nigeria’s severe economic challenges, rather than targeting minors.

In his view, Nigeria’s current circumstances demand attention to the root causes of unrest—security concerns, electricity instability, and economic hardship.

The use of state resources to detain children only detracts from efforts that should be channelled toward these core challenges, he argued, concluding with a call for a renewed commitment to the protection and welfare of Nigeria’s youth.