Tinubu’s Distressing Prosecution of Nigeria’s Malnourished Youth

Nigeria is on the brink of unprecedented economic devastation, yet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration seems more focused on prosecuting vulnerable minors from northern Nigeria who joined protests against their dire living conditions. Instead of addressing the widespread suffering, the government has responded with detentions and neglect....(CONTINUE READING)

Recently, social media was flooded with heartbreaking images and videos of four malnourished teenagers who collapsed in an Abuja courtroom. Their frail bodies reflect the harsh conditions they faced in detention, highlighting a shocking and distressing situation.What kind of madness is this? What rational government would arrest and publicly try children simply for protesting against the economic oppression that has plunged many Nigerians into severe hardship?These children did not protest out of mischief; they acted out of necessity.

They responded to the growing desperation in their communities, a result of misguided economic policies that have stripped them of their dignity.The #EndBadGovernance protests were not aimed at overthrowing the Tinubu administration but were a desperate plea for survival from a government that has ignored its most vulnerable citizens. These children protested not as instigators but as victims of policies that have devastated their families.Now, Tinubu is punishing these children for their hunger and their bravery in seeking change.

Young Nigerians, weakened by malnutrition and overwhelmed by soaring prices, are being taken to court as if they were hardened criminals. This situation is unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.As a society, how can we tolerate a government that responds to rising dissent by prosecuting the youth it has allowed to suffer? This is not governance; it is a cruel persecution disguised as law enforcement.

The logic behind this is absurd: punish the hungry and silence the desperate, hoping the issues will vanish. But hunger and despair do not go away when children are jailed, and poverty does not disappear when protests are suppressed. The underlying frustration only grows.It was heartbreaking to see five malnourished minors fainting as they were brought to trial—a sight that would embarrass even the most oppressive regimes

.These children, shackled by a state that refuses to provide for them, collapsed before their accusers, silently protesting their treatment, their physical condition speaking volumes.Even lawyers and court officials, momentarily shaken from their complacency, rushed to help. However, the harsh reality remains: Nigeria’s youth are being starved and punished, not for crimes, but for seeking their right to survive in a country that consistently fails them.At the core of this shameful situation is a government that seems to prioritize the demands of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank over the needs of its citizens.

President Tinubu’s administration has embraced austerity measures and subsidy cuts without considering their devastating impact on the population.Inflation is rising, prices are soaring, the naira is depreciating, hope is fading, and the nation is suffering. Families are unable to afford basic necessities, the middle class is vanishing, and the poorest citizens are being pushed to their limits, while the youth are told to remain silent or face consequences.

These innocent children are not the root of the problem; the government’s own policies are to blame. As I’ve noted in previous writings, the unwavering commitment to IMF-driven austerity and “economic reforms” only deepens poverty and widens inequality.So why aren’t these harmful policies and their enforcers being held accountable? Why are the architects of this economic disaster not facing scrutiny for the loss of hope and opportunity?The temporary halt in the trial of the four minors after their collapse is not an act of mercy; it is an insult.

A government that detains children for protesting against severe economic hardships has already forfeited its moral authority.This pause is merely a bureaucratic maneuver to avoid embarrassment, failing to address the real issue: the inhumane treatment of children standing up against systemic injustice.Ironically, the government’s oppressive actions reveal a disturbing truth: the voices of Nigeria’s youth pose a threat to those in power.

Their courage and desire for a better future shake the foundations of authority.Instead of viewing these children as a source of hope and renewal, the government has chosen to stifle their spirit. These young people represent Nigeria’s conscience, and by silencing them, the state only exposes its own despair and moral decay.Where is the compassion, the leadership, the recognition that a nation’s youth are its greatest asset? The Tinubu administration must urgently stop this disgraceful persecution of minors who are victims of poverty.These children should be released to their families immediately.

They need nourishment, opportunity, and safety—not prosecution. They are voices yearning for empathy and understanding, not punishment. Their cries signal a need for action, not retribution.Let the children heal and live free from the fear that their struggles will lead to incarceration. The government must prioritize the welfare of its citizens over harsh policies dictated by distant financial institutions.

It needs to recognize that these policies have real consequences, impacting not the politicians, but millions of Nigerians striving to survive.For every child in that courtroom, every young voice silenced by detention, Nigeria loses a part of its soul. This should serve as a warning to those in power: the future is watching, and history will judge which leaders chose compassion over cruelty.

If children cannot protest peacefully without fear of punishment, if their hunger is met with jail rather than support, then the government itself stands trial—and it is failing miserably.