I wasn’t aware of arrest of minors during my state during hunger protest – Gov Yusuf

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has said that he was not aware that the 76 minors arrested during #EndBadGovernance protest were arrested and even taken to Abuja.
Yusuf stated this on Tuesday when he hosted the boys at Muhammadu Buhari Hospital at Giginyu area when he accompanied them from Abuja to Kano after their release on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Yusuf, when the video of the boys surfaced during their arraignment in federal high court Abuja, he could not sleep because of the condition of the boys.
He stated that he was not happy when he heard some people on social media accusing him of handing over the boys to the Police for prosecution in Abuja.
“I was not aware of their arrest. I did not sign any document or hand you over to Police for prosecution in Abuja.
“When i first saw the video of some of you fainting in court, i could not sleep and swiftly swung into action by directing the Commissioner for Justice and other government officials to intervene.
“Now, we thank God you are freed,” he said.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank all those that contribute to your freedom, especially the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for listening to the outcry of Nigerians to direct your unconditional release because the bail conditions earlier imposed on you were stringent.
“ If not because of the president, you would have remained in prison. We must thank him on behalf of the state government, your parents and yourselves.
“We thank the lawyers that worked assiduously towards your release. We can’t thank them enough,” he said.
The governor said they were at the hospital for medical checkup, adding that they would remain there for some days and be taken care up.
He counseled them against participating in protests, promising to support their life in the are of education and entrepreneurship.
“Majority of you are underaged, 14, 15, 17. Only one of you that is 34 year old. It is dangerous to young people like you and the people of Kano to participate in the protest.
“In our thought, you are still immature to understand the implication of raising a flag of another country against Nigeria.
“So, from now on, you should be good people and productive to Kano and Nigeria,”