Rights group accuses authorities of sending children to adult prisons

A prison reform organization, the Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) has criticized the Nigerian security agencies over the detention of children in adult prisons.

In a statement recently, the executive director CURE, Sylvester Uhaa said the growing number of juveniles in adult prisons across the country is a violation of international, regional and national laws and standards governing the administration of juvenile justice and international conventions on the rights of the child.

He was reacting to the release of 80 juveniles who were serving various jail terms in Badagry Prison, an adult facility in Lagos State by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade. The children were arrested for street hawking and breach of the peace.

“While we commend the bold step of the CJ, we ask her take a step further and release all juveniles in adult prisons in Lagos or have them transferred to juvenile institutions, as well as sanction judges and magistrates who engage in this practice,” he said.

“Though the release of these juveniles represents a positive development, it exposes the rot, lawlessness and impunity inherent in our criminal justice system. This is why we continue to wonder if our justice system deserves to be called a justice system because it lacks the basic elements of justice,” he added.