By Abdullahi Bilal 

On November 1, 2024, the world watched in horror as minors collapsed in the Federal High Court in Abuja after enduring 93 days of illegal detention. These minors, aged 14 to 17, had been subjected to malnourishment, mistreatment, and possibly even torture. Their “crime”? Participating in a peaceful protest on August 1 against the Tinubu administration’s anti-poor policies. What should have been an exercise of their civil rights became a nightmare, exposing the brutal lengths to which the state will go to crush dissent.
The public outrage over the minors’ ordeal grew too loud to ignore, both within Nigeria and internationally. Under pressure, the judge dismissed the case in two stages, freeing a total of 119 defendants, including dozens of minors. The Child Rights Act in Nigeria clearly stipulates that minors should be tried only in juvenile courts, not in regular courts designed for adults. Bringing these children before an adult court was a glaring violation of their rights.
The minors were part of a larger movement, the #EndBadGovernance protest, which has seen hundreds of Nigerians detained, beaten, and prosecuted for daring to speak out against the crippling policies of the Tinubu administration. Among those detained are eleven other protesters, including Akande Daniel, Adaramoye Michael Lenin, and others, who are being charged with “treason” and “terrorism” simply for their peaceful participation in the protests.
This is an egregious attack on the democratic rights of Nigerian citizens. Protest is not treason. The right to resist the government’s anti-poor policies is enshrined in our constitution and must be defended.
These protests, which began in August, were a response to the devastating removal of the fuel subsidy and the sharp increase in electricity tariffs. These policy changes, dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, have left millions of Nigerians struggling to survive. The protests were a cry for help from people whose standard of living has been drastically eroded by neoliberal capitalist policies that serve the interests of the rich at the expense of the poor.
We in the Movement for Socialist Alternatives (MSA) have consistently argued that only through the organization of the working class can we dismantle this exploitative capitalist system that thrives on the suffering of the masses. The billionaires who run this country will never have the interests of the working class at heart. The solution lies not in reforms from above but in a mass movement from below—one that challenges the capitalist order and replaces it with a socialist society where the needs of the people, not profits, dictate policy.
The government must immediately drop the charges against Akande Daniel, Adaramoye Michael Lenin, and the other protesters still facing trial. Persecuting these individuals, simply for exercising their fundamental rights to protest and demand better living conditions, is a gross miscarriage of justice. The government should focus not on silencing dissent but on addressing the legitimate concerns of the Nigerian people—concerns over hunger, poverty, and insecurity.
The Nigerian people must not be discouraged. Now is the time to organize and push back against the capitalist policies that are driving the country deeper into crisis. We must not harbour any illusions that members of the billionaire class or their political representatives will deliver the fundamental change we need. Only by organizing, mobilizing, and building working-class power can we overthrow this system of exploitation and create a society that works for all.
We in the Movement for Socialist Alternatives stand in solidarity with all those who have been detained, persecuted, or prosecuted for demanding a better Nigeria. We call on the Nigerian government to drop all charges against the remaining protesters and to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens to protest peacefully. The struggle for a better Nigeria continues and will only be won through the collective strength and organization of the working class.