Nigeria, July 21 -- A new assessment by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has exposed disturbing details about the plight of thousands of Nigerian children and young adults locked away in detention facilities across the country.

The UN agency said many lack trial, legal representation, or hope for justice.

The report, released on Monday, shows a picture of a broken juvenile justice system where children are routinely detained for petty offences, such as homelessness, or simply because no one is advocating for them.

"The only 'crime' is often being poor or forgotten. This is not justice," UNICEF said.

The report draws on data collected between 2018 and 2022 and covers 87 adult custodial centres, 22 remand homes, and three bor...