By Bunmi Yekini
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has expressed serious concerns over reports of the detention and alleged mistreatment of individuals, including minors, arrested in connection with protests held in August 2024 in Nigeria. According to Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, PhD, the Country Rapporteur on Human Rights for Nigeria, detainees as young as 14 years old are reportedly being held in conditions that fall short of basic human rights standards, with some facing charges of treason that carry the risk of the death penalty.
In a strongly worded statement, the African Commission condemned the reported treatment of detainees, highlighting potential violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. “The charging of protesters, including children, for treason may amount to excessive restriction of freedom of assembly, impacting Nigeria’s human rights record,” said Commissioner Dersso. He added that these conditions, if verified, could constitute a breach of Articles 5 and 7 of the Charter, which protect against inhumane treatment and guarantee the right to due process.
The African Commission has called on the Nigerian government to ensure humane treatment for all detainees, particularly minors, emphasizing the need for adequate food, water, sanitation, and medical care. “Children should be housed in secure facilities separate from adults, in alignment with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,” the Commission stated.
The Commission also urged Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough, independent investigation into detention conditions, with Commissioner Dersso calling for “accountability for any inhumane treatment,” and to uphold due process rights as guaranteed under international human rights standards.
The Commission further reminded the Nigerian government of its responsibility to ensure that law enforcement actions and prosecutions are consistent with human rights norms and that peaceful assembly should not lead to arbitrary detention. “Nigeria has an obligation to avoid actions that could be seen as unjustifiable restrictions on the right to peaceful protest,” the statement continued.