Borno Gov. Zulum Jails Teenagers For WhatsApp Protest Group, Rewards Boko Haram ‘Repentants’ –Sowore

Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, over the conviction and sentencing of seven youths, most of whom are minors, over the August 1–10, 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Sowore described the governor’s actions as “totally insane.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that seven Nigerian youths had been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, community services, and public flogging by the Borno State government over the 2024 protests.

Amnesty International Nigeria, which made this revelation in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, said the teenagers and youths, aged between 15 and 17 years, were charged by Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration for creating a “Protest Group” on WhatsApp.

Amnesty International identified the convicted teenagers and youths as Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Gajimi (alias Bakura), 17 years old; Muhammed Mustapha (alias Gudusu), 14 years old; Muhammed Mustapha (alias Abbas), 15 years old; Muhammed Kyari (alias Mome); Muhammed Bukar (alias Awana), and Ibrahim Muhammed (alias Babayo).

Amnesty International demanded that the Borno state government “quash these convictions and all the seven youths be immediately and unconditionally released.”

Also condemning conviction and sentencing of the minors, Sowore, a former presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the jailed youths.

He said, “It is totally insane that the overrated Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, the same man who recently allocated billions of naira to so-called ‘repentant’ Boko Haram militants, has now turned around to jail innocent youths, several of them minors, simply for creating a WhatsApp protest group to mobilize against bad governance in Nigeria.”

Sowore accused Governor Zulum’s administration of hypocrisy, alleging that it was rewarding insurgents while persecuting peaceful protesters.

“This outrageous act exposes the hypocrisy of a government that pampers terrorists while criminalizing peaceful dissent.

“These young people committed no crime other than exercising their constitutional right to association and expression in preparation for the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest,” he stated.

The activist demanded that the convicted youths be freed immediately and unconditionally, alongside compensation and an apology.

“We demand their immediate and unconditional release, and an official apology, compensation, and rehabilitation from Governor Zulum,” Sowore declared.

He also faulted the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, holding him responsible for the arrests and prosecution of the youths.

“We equally hold accountable the illegal Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whose men carried out these arrests and may have partaken in a bogus prosecution,” Sowore alleged.

Reaffirming his stance against what he called repression, Sowore maintained that the clampdown would not silence Nigerians.

“This repression will not silence Nigerians. If anything, it only deepens the resolve of citizens to confront tyranny,” he added.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which erupted nationwide between August 1 and 10, 2024, were primarily driven by young Nigerians who took to the streets and online spaces to express anger over worsening economic hardship, spiraling inflation, food shortages, corruption, and insecurity.

What began as small, decentralised demonstrations in cities like Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, and Abuja quickly spread across several states, including Borno, where residents joined in despite a heavy security presence.

The protests echoed the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations, with thousands of young Nigerians using hashtags such as #EndBadGovernance, #EndHunger, and #EndCorruption to mobilise support.

Human rights groups reported several arrests, violent crackdowns by security forces, and multiple deaths during the protests.

Particularly, Amnesty International reported that at least 24 protesters were killed by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agents deployed with firearms and live ammunition against the protesters.

However, despite the damning reports with identities of the victims, President Bola Tinubu’s administration insisted that the protest was infiltrated by “subversive elements” and accused organisers of attempting to destabilise the country.

Civil society organisations have continued to demand accountability for what they describe as the criminalisation of peaceful dissent.