The Kano State Government on Thursday handed over 76 minors, who had been arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests, to their parents at a ceremony held at the Muhammadu Buhari Hospital in Giginyu, Kano.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the state’s Commissioner for Health, confirmed that all the minors had received medical treatment and were now in good health.
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“They have recovered after receiving treatment and now have a clean bill of health. I assure you the government will continue to care for all those who need continuous care,” Dr. Yusuf assured.
The ceremony also saw the Bafarawa Foundation step in to support the minors financially. Each of the 76 children was given N50,000 to help them reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives.
The minors had been in the custody of the Kano State Government since November 5, 2024, following their release by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court had dismissed treason charges against them after the Federal Government withdrew the case.
The Kano State government explained that the minors were held to ensure they received adequate medical care and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families.
Minors recount harsh conditions after two months in detention
Earlier, Daily News 24 reported how several minors who were detained during the #EndBadGovernance protest revealed distressing experiences after two months in custody in Abuja, recounting long periods of isolation and insufficient food.
Speaking at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital in Kano upon their return, the minors described the severe conditions they endured, often spending days without adequate food or sunlight.
A 15-year-old detainee, Umar Ali, shared the difficulties, saying, “We suffered greatly in detention. Sometimes we went up to three days without food, and when food was available, it was barely enough to sustain us.”
Ali recounted how he was arrested while heading to the market for menial work, claiming he had no involvement in any protest. He explained that the lack of sunlight affected their vision. “We rarely saw sunlight in our holding area, which is why some of us struggled to see clearly when we appeared in court,” he added.
Ali cautioned other youths against joining protests, recalling the harsh treatment he endured despite not participating. Another detainee, 16-year-old Ibrahim Aliyu Musa, described the trauma of being held with hardened criminals and often going without enough food.
“They served us beans in the morning, rice for lunch, and gabza for dinner. Gabza is a type of tuwo made from unwashed corn, known as ‘from sack to pot’ due to its crude preparation,” Musa explained.
