Several minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests have come forward to share distressing accounts of their two-month ordeal in custody. Held in an Abuja facility, the teenagers describe a grueling period of isolation, inadequate food, and a lack of sunlight—harsh experiences that have left them urging their peers to avoid involvement in protests.

Speaking to reporters at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital in Kano upon their return, the minors detailed the extreme conditions they endured. Umar Ali, a 15-year-old detainee, shared how they often went up to three days without food, and when food was finally provided, it was scarcely enough to sustain them. “We suffered greatly in detention. Sometimes we went up to three days without food, and when food was available, it was barely enough,” Ali recounted. He explained he was detained while heading to the market for work, maintaining he had no connection to any protest, yet still experienced prolonged confinement without access to sunlight, which he says impacted his vision.

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Another detainee, 16-year-old Ibrahim Aliyu Musa, described being held among convicted criminals and living on sparse, poorly-prepared meals. “They served us beans in the morning, rice for lunch, and ‘gabza’ for dinner. Gabza is a type of tuwo made from unwashed corn, and we called it ‘from sack to pot’ due to its crude preparation,” Musa explained.

For 13-year-old Yusuf, his journey to detention began with a mistaken accusation. Held in Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf was arrested for allegedly waving a Russian flag. He recalled his August 15 arrest and transfer to Abuja’s Abattoir SARS facility, where he was confined alongside hardened criminals, an experience that left him traumatized.

The minors extended their gratitude to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose intervention helped secure their release and medical care. Under observation at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, they are expected to remain there for several days before returning to their families.

Reflecting on their ordeal, the teenagers advised young Nigerians to steer clear of protest activities, warning that such involvement could lead to serious and unforeseen consequences.