Nigeria's president ordered the release of 27 teenagers accused of treason after footage of their collapse in court due to malnourishment sparked outrage. They had been detained for months following anti-government protests, with renewed criticism over their treatment and lengthy imprisonment.

Nigeria's president has ordered the immediate release of a group of young individuals accused of treason, following public outrage sparked by footage of some collapsing in court.

The group consists of 27 teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, who were among 76 suspects detained for months after their arrest during anti-government protests. President Bola Tinubu directed officials to release these teenagers after four of them collapsed during their initial court appearance on Friday, seemingly due to malnourishment.

Viral videos showing the teenagers writhing in pain before being taken for medical treatment ignited renewed discussions regarding their treatment by Nigerian authorities and the length of their detention.

The suspects had been in custody for nearly three months after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests, which swept across Nigeria in August in response to a worsening cost of living crisis. These demonstrations turned violent in some areas as protesters clashed with security forces, resulting in police reports of seven fatalities, although rights groups claim the death toll was 23. Nearly 700 individuals were arrested during the protests.

During the court proceedings in Abuja on Friday, some of the accused were alleged to have flown Russian flags and plotted to overthrow the Nigerian government.

In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, spokesman for President Tinubu, indicated that the release of the minors should not be seen as affecting the ongoing legal proceedings against them. Reports from Reuters, citing Information Minister Mohammed Idris, suggested that the treason charges against the minors had been dropped.

Onanuga also noted that the Nigerian Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has been instructed "to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families," while an investigation has been initiated to examine the circumstances surrounding their prolonged detention.

In response to the courtroom footage, the Nigerian rights organization Enough is Enough condemned the treatment of the minors, labeling it as "institutional child abuse." Amnesty International characterized the detention of these children as "one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly" witnessed thus far.