Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has ordered an investigation into the treatment of minors held in police detention facilities, following a wave of public outrage over their recent arraignment.
The minors were among the 76 individuals charged with treason for allegedly participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests in August.
The arraignment, which took place last Friday, sparked significant backlash as the children appeared visibly malnourished and gaunt, with four collapsing in court.
Their condition and the charges filed against them drew widespread condemnation on social media, with numerous calls for their immediate release.
In response to the growing controversy, Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), requested that the police hand over all case files related to the minors.
“If there are any infractions found to have been committed by any official of government, be him a law enforcement agent or whoever that person may be, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against him or her,” stated Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The IGP, who is currently attending the Interpol General Assembly in Glasgow, received the preliminary investigation report on Monday.
He expressed his commitment to thoroughly reviewing the findings and addressing any identified procedural lapses. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, noted that the IGP had also summoned heads of investigative units to discuss child-friendly methods in handling cases involving minors.
“To further ensure professionalism in investigation with emphasis on child-friendly investigation and care, the IGP has summoned all Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCs) CID and Heads of Investigation Units to a conference and workshop on November 7, 2024, at the Police Resource Center, Jabi,” Adejobi added.
