DSS Cracks Down on Abuja Protest, Arrests Leader

Abuja protest leader taken into custody by DSS...

Nigerian activist Michael Lenin arrested by DSS for criticizing President Tinubu's address, sparking concerns about government's response to dissenting voices and ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

In a pre-dawn raid on Monday, August 5, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Michael Lenin, a prominent leader of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja. The arrest occurred at Lenin's residence in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) around 2 am.

The ‘Take It Back’ Movement's Director of Mobilisation, Damilare Adenola, confirmed Lenin's arrest and alleged that his house was raided and that he was physically assaulted during the detention process. Adenola's statement shed light on the circumstances surrounding Lenin's arrest, raising concerns about the treatment of protesters by security forces.

“Lenin has been arrested by the DSS.

“He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 am. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family.

“We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola said.

Michael Lenin, a prominent activist and National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was a fierce critic of President Bola Tinubu's recent address to the nation on Sunday, August 4. Lenin's outspoken disapproval of the President's speech stemmed from his belief that it failed to acknowledge the harsh realities faced by Nigerians.

Lenin's vocal criticism of the President's broadcast was likely a contributing factor to his arrest by the DSS, highlighting the government's sensitivity to dissenting voices. By speaking truth to power, Lenin had positioned himself as a thorn in the side of the administration, making him a target for repression.

“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,” Lenin added.

 

The approach of relying on both coercion and disinformation has not yielded the desired results.

“We, therefore, call on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to continue these protests on Monday, August 5, until our demands are met.”

The attempt to control through fear and manipulation has ultimately failed.

“The violence and repressions are just attempts to silence and control us, and the propaganda cannot sway or fool us,” he declared.