Twenty-nine minors in Nigeria could face the death penalty after participating in a protest against the country’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, sparking widespread outrage. The children, ages 14 to 17, were among 76 protesters charged with offenses including treason, property damage, and public disturbance, according to the charges filed Friday.
Public discontent has grown as economic pressures worsen. With inflation at a 28-year high and the naira at record lows, many Nigerians are experiencing severe hardship. A recent UN report classified Nigeria as a “hotspot of very high concern” due to critical levels of acute food insecurity. Despite being one of Africa’s top crude oil producers, chronic corruption has left Nigeria struggling to create jobs and alleviate poverty for its 210 million citizens.
The court has set stringent bail conditions, requiring each defendant to post 10 million naira (approximately $5,900) — a substantial amount in a country where poverty rates are high. Many of these children have been detained for over 90 days, allegedly without access to adequate food or support.
Legal experts argue the charges are in violation of Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, which prohibits sentencing minors to death. “Prosecuting these children in a federal court is fundamentally wrong unless their ages can be proven to be above 19,” said lawyer Akintayo Balogun.
Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of the civil society organization Enough is Enough, criticized the prosecution, emphasizing the obligation to protect Nigeria’s youth rather than criminalize them. The severe treatment of these minors underscores Nigeria’s deeply rooted economic and political challenges, as well as the widening gap between its government officials and the general population.
