His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Villa
Abuja, Nigeria

Dear President Tinubu,

*SAVE OUR SOULS AND PROTECT OUR CHILDREN*

We, the undersigned, write to you with grave concern and deep respect, reaching out to you as both the leader of our nation and a person of faith. Recent reports detail the disturbing detention of peaceful protestors, including minors, following the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations on November 1, 2024. We appeal to your moral authority to end this crisis swiftly and decisively, reminding you of the sacred duty we have to defend the vulnerable and uphold justice, especially toward our nation’s children.

Today, we saw children being arraigned in court, collapsing and fainting before the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu and later on, having bail set for each child running into millions of Naira each. These minors are currently being held in Kuje Prison, where they face threats of abuse and violence from older inmates. These actions are, to say the least, inconsistent with Nigeria’s laws and international obligations to protect the rights and dignity of children. Efforts by Federal Government representatives like Rimazonte Ezekiel to defend these actions have disregarded the age and vulnerability of these young detainees, presenting a disturbing attempt to justify what is, in fact, a moral and legal violation of our country’s principles.

As people of faith, we appeal to the teachings that guide us all. In the Qur’an, Allah commands believers to uphold justice and stand firmly for fairness, saying, “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives” (Qur’an 4:135). Likewise, the Bible’s words in Proverbs remind us: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). Both scriptures urge us to act as stewards of justice, to stand up for the weak, and to protect those who are unable to protect themselves.

Mr. President, we also call to your memory the challenging times under the regime of General Sani Abacha, whose rule was marked by repression and injustice. Despite this dark chapter, not even that regime subjected minors to the cruel treatment currently being inflicted on Nigerian children today. It pains us to see actions under your administration echoing a more brutal past, and we believe that you, like us, would not want the legacy of this administration to be tainted by the suffering of our youth.

We trust that you may not be fully aware of the scale of this wrongdoing, and we are certain that the suffering of these minors is not something you would knowingly condone. We believe that this heartbreaking reality is the result of decisions made by officials acting without your awareness, and we appeal to your compassion and faith to halt this situation immediately. We plead with you to end this mistreatment, ensure the immediate release of detained children, and protect the rights of all citizens to peacefully express their views.

Our nation looks to your leadership to stand firm in these values and to uphold a legacy of humanity, not one marked by oppression. We believe you have the power to right this wrong and affirm our nation’s commitment to justice, freedom, and compassion.