Micheal Lenin, a leader of the ongoing #Endbadgovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory has been arrested by Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). According to Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilization, Take It Back Movement, Lenin was picked up by the DSS around 2 am on Monday at his Apo residence.
Adenola alleged that the DSS raided Lenin’s house and assaulted him during the arrest. “Lenin was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We demand his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola said.
The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, could not be reached for comment.
Lenin, National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, had spoken at a press briefing, criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday. He said the President’s address showed he was “out of touch with reality” in the country. He said, “We wish to express our sadness and deep disappointment at the latest broadcast by President Tinubu which is his first address to the nation on the #
EndBadGovernance protests, after over three weeks since Nigerians started mobilizing to take to the streets and after scores of dead protesters and assaulted journalists from the first three days of the protests.
“ Many had requested that the President should just address the nation when the protest was being mobilized and when it started to escalate, but most of us did not know that the President would only justify state violence on protesters and journalists while dismissing the demands of the protesters whenever he decides to speak.
“This, plus the failed attempt to co-opt the progressive and radical language of the protests only shows how much President Tinubu is out of touch with the masses.” he added. Lenin called for the protests to continue, urging citizens to come out in large numbers on Monday. “The violence and repressions are attempts to silence and control us, and the propaganda cannot sway or fool us,” he said.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Protest Rally Convergence Points: Organizers Share Details