Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Michael Lenin, one of the key figures in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Lenin was detained at around 2am on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of Abuja.
Lenin’s arrest was confirmed by Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the ‘Take It Back’ Movement. Adenola stated that Lenin’s house was raided and that he was assaulted during his arrest.
“Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2am. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola said.
Attempts to reach DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report, as he was yet to respond to messages sent to him.
Michael Lenin, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday address to the nation. Speaking at a press briefing, Lenin expressed deep disappointment with the President’s broadcast, describing it as out of touch with the realities faced by Nigerians.
“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 mobilising to take to the streets and after scores of dead protesters and assaulted journalists from the first three days of the protests,” Lenin said.
He criticised the President for justifying state violence against protesters and journalists and for dismissing the demands of the protesters.
“Many had requested that the President should just address the nation when the protest was being mobilised 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,” Lenin added.
Lenin urged citizens to continue protesting. “We, therefore, call on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to continue these protests on Monday until our demands are met. The two-pronged approach of violence and propaganda has failed. The violence and repressions are just attempts to silence and control us, and the propaganda cannot sway or fool us,” he declared.
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