Sun Nov 03 05:36:19 UTC 2024: ## Nigerian Protests Turn Deadly: 29 Children Face Death Penalty for Demonstrations
**ABUJA, NIGERIA** – In a shocking turn of events, 29 children are facing the death penalty in Nigeria for participating in protests against the country’s soaring cost of living. The minors, aged between 14 and 17, were arraigned on Friday and charged with 10 felonies, including treason, destruction of property, and mutiny.
Four of the children collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they could even enter a plea.
The charges stem from a series of protests that have erupted in recent months, fueled by widespread frustration over the cost-of-living crisis. In August, a protest demanding better opportunities and jobs resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people and the arrest of hundreds more.
The death penalty, while introduced in Nigeria in the 1970s, has not been carried out since 2016. However, this case has raised serious concerns about the legal system’s treatment of minors.
Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer, has argued that the Child Rights Act prohibits the prosecution and sentencing of children to death. He believes the government must prove the children are over 19 years old if they are to be tried in a federal high court.
This case highlights the increasing tensions in Nigeria as the government struggles to address the rising cost of living and the growing public frustration.
First Piper 