Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, is very worried about the recent arrest of 32 children during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano and Kaduna states. The children were apparently detained on August 3, 2024.
In a statement released on Saturday, the minister acknowledged that the public was worried about how these children were being treated, their safety, and their rights. He said, “The Ministry is taking active steps to address these issues.”
It is also very important to protect every child’s rights, which are written into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Child Rights Act, and foreign agreements that Nigeria has signed. She stressed that all children, no matter what their situation is, have the right to be safe, treated with respect, and have a fair trial under the law.
To show how much she cared about these kids’ well-being, the minister went to the holding center late at night and played with the kids. She gave them peace, listened to their worries, and reassured them that she cared about their well-being.
The minister also talked to the authorities to make sure the kids were getting the right care and that their rights were being respected.
“Talks are underway with relevant authorities, such as the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and correctional institutions, to make sure that these children’s cases are expedited and heard in juvenile courts as required by law,” the statement said.
She confirmed that the children’s welfare is still being actively monitored, and the Ministry is working with child rights activists to stop any harm, discrimination, or maltreatment. There are plans to work closely with child protection services to help kids get back into their neighborhoods by giving them therapy, social support, and rehabilitation after they get out of jail. Along with stakeholders, the Ministry is also looking into educational options that will help the kids grow and be healthy after this hard time.
The minister also said that the President has told the Attorney General of the Federation to look into the cases of these minors right away. He expressed confidence that justice will be done, which is in line with Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and child protection standards.
She also said that the Ministry is using a “Whole-of-Society Approach” to deal with youth crime. The goal is to improve current systems and structures by working together with everyone who has a stake in them, with a focus on changing the youth justice system.
She said, “Key initiatives will include revising laws to deal with juvenile delinquency and encouraging multi-sectoral engagement to give communities and authorities the tools they need to stop juvenile delinquency across Nigeria.”
She reassured everyone who was worried that the Ministry would keep fighting for these kids’ rights and working hard to get a fair result.
“Protecting the rights of all children remains a top priority, and we will do everything we can to make sure they are safe, happy, and treated fairly,” she said.
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