Why Tinubu ordered release of minors charged with treason – Shettima

• The vice president counseled the minors to become responsible citizens and never allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence

Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed why President Bola Tinubu ordered the release of the 119 minors who were tried for their alleged involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernance and hunger protest.

Shettima disclosed that the minors were released on compassionate grounds despite irrefutable evidence of their alleged crime.

He made the disclosure while handing over the freed minors to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna at the auditorium of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He handed over 73 released suspected minors to Mr Yusuf of Kano and 39 to Mr Sani.

” The president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, instructed the release of the suspect on humanitarian grounds.

”Despite compelling and incontrovertible digital video and photographic evidence of the perpetrators in action. Some of which were uploaded by the actors themselves.

” Regarding this evidence, the president is the father of the nation to give these young men another chance at becoming responsible citizens who will make a positive impact in a drive for a better Nigeria,” said Mr Shettima.

The vice president counseled the minors to become responsible citizens and never allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence and destroy public and private property.

According to him, over N300 billion was lost in the protests, consisting mainly of private property and loss of business.

He said, ” I will urge you; I will advise you, you are our children, to use the opportunity of the President’s magnanimous gesture in ensuring that you overcome and become responsible citizens who will contribute to the growth of the society.”

Shettima also urged their governors and elected representatives across political divides to ensure that the children were rehabilitated and reintegrated into the fabric of their communities.

” We want to thank the president on behalf of our governors, on behalf of our members of the National Assembly for his magnanimity in granting pardon to these young children.

” Not that they were exonerated from their crime is out of his own magnanimity. Most of the instigators of the crime and their children were not involved,” he said.