The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has expressed grave concern over the detention conditions of 76 Nigerians, including children as young as 14, who were arrested during August protests and are now facing treason charges.
In a press statement released by the Commission, the Country Rapporteur on Human Rights in Nigeria, Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, warned that the treason charges against the protesters, particularly minors, could severely damage Nigeria’s human rights record.
The rights body appears particularly troubled by the possibility of death penalty sentences, given the nature of the charges. According to the Commission, the detained protesters, including minors, have been held in conditions “that do not meet minimum standards of human dignity and care.”
The Commission issued four key demands to the Nigerian government. These include ending inhumane detention conditions, with special consideration for child detainees; launching an independent investigation into detention conditions; ensuring due process; and guaranteeing that law enforcement measures align with human rights standards.
The African Commission expressed its commitment to supporting the Republic of Nigeria in upholding its human and people’s rights obligations and in consolidating its human rights record.