Nigeria’s president frees children who fainted in court

In a statement on Monday, President Tinbula’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga said he wished the release of the children would not prejudice the ongoing legal action.

Reuters reported, citing Information Minister Mohammed Idris, that treason charges against the children had been dropped.

Mr. Onanuga said Nigeria’s humanitarian affairs ministry had been asked to “ensure the safe return of all minors to their families pending an investigation into the circumstances leading to their prolonged detention.”

When video of the courtroom emerged, the Nigerian rights group Enough is Enough said they were being subjected to “institutionalized child abuse.”

Amnesty International called the detention of children “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly.”