Labour Party leader Kenneth Okonkwo has spoken out, urging President Bola Tinubu to apologize to the minors who were detained and put on trial after the recent #EndBadGovernance protest. In an interview with Arise Television, Okonkwo described the charges and the way the minors were treated as entirely unjust.

The #EndBadGovernance protest, held across Nigeria from August 1 to 10, sparked significant attention as people gathered to demand better governance. But things took a troubling turn when several protesters were arrested, including minors. News of their detainment led to widespread anger, especially after it became known that some detainees were very young. Reacting to public concern, President Tinubu directed Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi to drop the charges against the minors, and on Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the cases for 119 protest participants. After their release, the minors were received by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House.

Okonkwo emphasized that beyond dropping charges, the government should make amends by apologizing and offering compensation to these young people. He described the treatment of the minors as “malnourished, mistreated, and wrongfully detained.” According to Okonkwo, the whole process—from the charges to the detainment—was mishandled. He believes that both the police and the government owe these children an apology.

Okonkwo’s comments highlight a call for accountability and fair treatment, especially for vulnerable groups like minors. By seeking justice for these children, Okonkwo hopes similar situations can be prevented in the future, ensuring better protections for young Nigerians.