Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Micheal Lenin, a prominent leader of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Lenin was detained at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT around 2 am on Monday.
Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, informed our correspondent about the raid, alleging that the DSS also assaulted Lenin during his arrest.
Adenola stated, “Lenin was arrested by the DSS during a raid on his house around 2 am. He was tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.”
As of the time of this report, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya could not be reached for comment and has not responded to messages sent to him.
Lenin, who serves as the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was one of the organizers who spoke at a recent press briefing expressing disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday. He criticized the President’s address, stating it showed a disconnect from the realities faced by the country.
Lenin remarked, “We are deeply saddened and disappointed by President Tinubu’s latest broadcast, which is his first address to the nation on the #EndBadGovernance protests after over three weeks of mobilization, numerous deaths, and assaults on journalists. Many had requested the President to address the nation when the protests began escalating. However, his address only justified state violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing their demands.”
Despite his arrest, Lenin called for the continuation of the protests, urging citizens to come out in large numbers on Monday.
“We call on Nigerians to continue these protests until our demands are met. The government’s use of violence and propaganda has failed. These tactics are merely attempts to silence and control us, but they will not succeed,” Lenin stated.
(Punch)