By Samuel Luka
Bauchi state Governor Bala Mohammed has in a recent facebook post, described the arraignment and stringent bail condition of children in Courts as shocking.
The kids were among the protesters of #EndBadGovernance that broke out in August this year, expressing grievances against the government policies that shoot up the cost of living in the country.
Three months after, Police arraigned the kids in court where many of them looked emanciated and slumped before the trial over hunger. The court order each minor to paid a sum of N10 million for bail.
But reacting on his official Facebook handle harsh tagged "ArewaMufarka" meaning, "North let's wake up", the Governor expressed shock that after arraigning the minors, they were ask to pay 10 million naira each for bail.
"I found myself in total shock yesterday after watching a video of the underaged children who were taken to court over alleged plan to overthrow a democratic government, stealing and uprising during the recent Nationwide protests tagged "end badgovernance" two months ago", he said.
According to the governor, the arraignment of the children came at a time the citizens were being faced with acute hunger and malnutrition that is visible among children.
"This has exposed the lackadaisical attitude in the management of our various correctional facilities and how the suspects' rights are being violated across detention facilities or in the hands our security operatives", the Governor stated.
He further said: "Above all, it has also exposed the challenges of lack of quality leadership and the inability of the Northern Leaders to speak with one voice as currently been experienced".
While sympathizing with parents and the Northern leaders over the incident, Bala Mohammed urged security agencies and the judiciary to ensure that freedom of speech and human rights is respected.
He also advised that the judiciary and the security agencies to consider the hardship been faced in the country with a view to freeing the children.
"How do you expect parents who could not even afford three square meal per day to pay N10,000,000 bail", the Governor question.
Bala Mohammed therefore, called on the authorities to consider the situation of the affected children with mercy and cautioned all those involved in the issue against future occurrence.
"With this, I want to also call on the parents, religious leaders as well our leaders in the North to wake up", he concluded.
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