The Kaduna State Government has gifted mobile phones and a sum of N100,000 to each of the newly released #EndBadGovernance protesters who hail from the state.
It would be recalled that their matter became a national sensation last week after they were arraigned in court by the police for treason.
The protesters, especially the minors among them appeared malnourished after two months of incarceration.
One of the minors collapsed in court, forcing the judge to withdraw into his chamber in the commotion.
The public chastised the government for arraigning children for treason and called for their immediate release.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) later announced a take-over of the matter from the police.
The protesters, including the minors, were granted freedom on Tuesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja who struck out their charges upon an application by the AG.
The malnourished protesters who spent about 90 days in prison were later handed over to officials of the governments of Kaduna and Kano states.
Kaduna State later held a reception for the protesters who hail from the state and gave them smartphones and money.
The Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on New Media, Abdullahi Yunus confirmed the payment of N100,000 to each of the 39 protesters.
He quoted the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Dr Abdulkadir Muazu, as saying: “The governor promised that some of them will be given start-up capitals to commence trading, others will be taught skills and some will be given employment.
“Both Islamic and Christian religious leaders preached to them to embrace the teachings of their faiths and to avoid bad company, to benefit from God’s blessings here and in the hereafter.”
He added the smartphones were given to the detainees because they lost theirs during their detention.
