LAGOS, Nigeria 

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday ordered the release of 40 minors charged with treason following their alleged involvement in anti-government protests in August.

Information Minister Mohammed Idriss said that Tinubu had directed the police chief to free the 40 minors remanded in custody after their trials began this month.

"Mr. President has ordered the immediate release of all minors arrested by the police," he told journalists in the capital Abuja.

Idriss said the president gave the directive because of his "deep commitment to democracy" and without prejudice to the legal case against the minors.

The minors were arrested by the police and charged with treasonable offenses of intending to destabilize the country and inciting mutiny following their participation in nationwide End Bad Governance protests this August.

Some of the minors collapsed in court in Abuja on Monday, fueling condemnation by civil society groups, bar organizations and the general public.