A public affairs analyst and community development expert, Dr. Hadi Moshood says being a suspected criminal is not enough reason to be subjected to maltreatment, as “one is innocent until proven otherwise”
He said this today (Monday, 4th November, 2024), in reaction to the inadequate, maltreatment and malnourishment meted to the minors, while featuring on Diamond 88.7FM’s flagship programmes- “Diamond Breakfast Show”.
According to him, “the incident is an unfortunate one, as minors start from the age of 7 and as stated in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), a minor is someone below 18yrs, adding that those arrested were between the age of 15 and 18.”
He stressed that the prison is meant to be a correctional Centre, a place where those in custody get reformed not deformed. “The minors should be properly oriented and given proper education, demanding for their unconditional release.” He also argued that: “the government has not taken time to investigate and find out those who sponsored the minors stating that they could not have indulged in the act of raising the Russian Flags on their own volition.”
Finally, he said: “we should have properly kept, maintained the centers for minors across the nation” he made mention of borstal centers using the one in ganmo kwara state as an example of the degrading state of the institution.
Recall that suspects arrested during the August #Endbadgovernance protest were on Friday arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, including 32 minors with some slumping at the courtroom.
ONU PRAISE ONYINYECHI