Rights group demands apology from IGP over unlawful detention of minors

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has condemned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the arrest, detention, and arraignment of minors involved in #BadGovernance protests.

In response to the President’s recent directive for the release of the minors, Intersociety’s Chairman, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, demanded an apology from the IGP to both Nigerians and the affected minors for what he described as “unprofessional actions.”

“It is disturbing and frustrating that the IGP, the most educated and qualified police officer in the country, stooped so low as to justify the unlawful arrest of minors, detaining them for more than 90 days and arraigning them in court,” Umeagbalasi stated.

He criticized the IGP for equating his actions to those of other civilized nations, thereby degrading the standards of global leaders. “The IGP should be ashamed. Within 48 hours of their arraignment, the President issued an order for the unconditional release of the minors. The IGP should clarify if these minors were found with weapons or if they were accused of being child soldiers or terrorists.”

Umeagbalasi further questioned the legal basis for detaining minors for over 90 days, describing it as “sheer dictatorship and inhuman” and pointing out that the incident has drawn international condemnation. “We are ashamed of the actions of the Nigerian police and join others in condemning this violation,” he concluded.