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The Digest:

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly on Wednesday, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials. The visibly distraught protesters, including an eight-year-old girl and a four-year-old child, held placards reading "Don't Kill Our Daddies" and "Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough." The families appealed to President Bola Tinubu for intervention, describing the prolonged detention without trial as a violation of their fundamental rights. The officers have been held for over 160 days.

Key Points:
  • Children as young as four joined the protest, pleading for their fathers' release.
  • The detained officers have been held for over six months without trial.
  • Families described the detention without access to lawyers or family as unconstitutional.
  • The alleged coup plot reportedly targeted President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
  • Sixteen officers were initially arrested in October 2025 over alleged breaches of military regulations.
As families demand justice, the prolonged detention of the accused officers without trial raises constitutional questions and highlights the human cost of national security investigations.

Sources: The Punch