ABUJA, Nigeria CNN —Twenty-nine children could be facing the death penalty in Nigeria after they were arraigned Friday for participating in a protest against the country’s record cost-of-living crisis.
The death sentence was introduced in the 1970s in Nigeria, but there have been no executions in the country since 2016.
“So taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years,” Balogun said.
“A country that has a duty to educate its children will decide to punish those children.
Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough is Enough, a civil society organization promoting good governance in Nigeria, said authorities have no business prosecuting children.
Persons:
Nigeria CNN —, Akintayo, “, ” Balogun, Marshal Abubakar, ” Abubakar, Yemi Adamolekun, ” Adamolekun, —
Organizations:
Nigeria CNN, Associated Press, Child, United Nations
Locations:
ABUJA, Nigeria, Abuja, Africa, West