BREAKING: Underage protesters collapse in courtroom amid hunger

Several underage protesters detained since August during the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations collapsed Friday morning inside the Federal High Court in Abuja, a situation reportedly caused by hunger and harsh detention conditions.

The minors were brought from various police cells, including the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit, and were observed fainting in the courtroom due to alleged maltreatment and lack of food.

Eyewitnesses reported that some protesters had not eaten for days, with SaharaReporters citing accusations of authorities “weaponising hunger” as a form of punishment.

Pictures and videos captured the distressing scenes, showing teenagers writhing on the floor, with others attempting to help them.

One image shows a lawyer trying to revive a protester who had collapsed in the dock.

The protesters were detained following an order from Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an ex-parte request by the police to hold them for 60 days for further investigation.

The detained minors, alongside 76 other individuals, were part of the nationwide protest condemning escalating insecurity and economic hardships attributed to policies under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Network of Abuja Left Groups has since called for the immediate and unconditional release of the 76 detained protesters, including 32 minors.

The coalition criticized the government’s repression of peaceful dissent and urged Nigerians to remain resilient in advocating against economic struggles affecting millions across the nation.