Minors on Trial: Mashood Mustapha Calls For Immediate Release, Rehabilitation

By Oyewale Oyelola

A former member of House of Representatives and Stalwart of All Progressives Congress, Hon Mashood Mustapha has called for immediate release and rehabilitation of minors facing trial over recent #Endbadgovernance protest.

Mustapha who represented Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency from 2011-2015 via a teaser statement posted on Facebook on Saturday says uneducated and unguided can become willing tools in the hands of terrorists, thereby, exacerbating insecurity in the country.

He therefore called on policymakers to address the growing number of out-of-school children to prevent a breakdown of society in the future.

His words: “The images of the malnourished underaged boys who were arraigned at the Federal High Court for their involvement in protests are not only disturbing but evidence of societal failure. If those children were given the right societal guidance and government support, they would have been in school learning rather than becoming a menace to society.

“This is a clarion call to our policymakers to address the growing number of out-of-school children to prevent a breakdown of society in the future. Aside from participating in protests, these children and others like them who are uneducated and unguided can become willing tools in the hands of terrorists, thereby, exacerbating insecurity in the country.”

Kwara born Politician therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to facilitate unconditional release and rehabilitation of the underaged children.

According to him,  No matter the offence they may have committed, they belong within the four walls of a classroom and not in a dirty jailhouse.