Nigerian teens face death penalty for protest involvement
In Nigeria, 29 teenagers aged 14 to 17 have been charged with treason for participating in demonstrations against the country's dire economic situation. They face the death penalty.
6:02 PM EST, November 3, 2024
A total of 76 people who took part in the demonstration on Friday appeared in court on charges of treason, property destruction, disturbing public order, and inciting rebellion. The court set bail for the accused at 10 million naira (around 5,500 USD).
Among the accused are 29 teenagers. Four of them fainted in court from exhaustion before giving their statements. A lawyer from Abuja, Akintayo Balogun, pointed out that the Child Rights Act does not allow minors to be subjected to criminal proceedings or sentenced to death.
Mass protests in Nigeria
For several months, Nigeria has been experiencing a wave of mass protests. Citizens are taking to the streets demanding new jobs and better living conditions. In August, clashes with law enforcement resulted in at least 20 deaths and hundreds of arrests.
Despite being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigeria remains one of the world's poorest countries. With a population of 210 million, the country struggles with chronic corruption, high inflation, and food insecurity for many citizens.
Controversial charges
The death penalty was introduced into the Nigerian penal code in the 1970s, but no executions have been carried out since 2016.
The current charges against minors are controversial and raise issues regarding the observance of human rights in the country.
