NEWS
#EndBadGovernancelnNigeria protests leader arrested for blasting Tinubu
The Department of State Services (DSS) has detained Michael Lenin, a prominent figure in the ongoing #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria nationwide protests in Abuja.
Lenin, the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was arrested around 2 am on Monday at his residence in Apo, FCT.
According to Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Lenin was subjected to a raid and alleged assault by DSS operatives in front of his family. “Lenin has been arrested and tortured. We demand his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola declared.
The arrest comes on the heels of Lenin’s vocal criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s recent address, where Lenin expressed deep disappointment with the President’s perceived detachment from the realities faced by Nigerians.
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Speaking at a press briefing, Lenin condemned the President’s broadcast, which he felt justified state violence against protesters and journalists, while neglecting the core issues fueling the demonstrations.
“President Tinubu’s address, coming after three weeks of intense protests and casualties, showed a lack of empathy and understanding of the people’s plight,” Lenin stated. He further emphasized that the #EndBadGovernance protests would escalate on Monday, urging citizens to join in greater numbers.
As of now, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, has not provided any comment regarding Lenin’s arrest or the allegations of mistreatment.
Michael Lenin is quoted saying:
“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.
“Many had requested that the President 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 decided 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.“
With tensions soaring and the public demanding answers, this incident raises critical questions about the state of civil liberties and government accountability in Nigeria. The nation watches closely as the #EndBadGovernance movement protests continue to challenge the status quo, and the call for justice grows louder.
Will this arrest ignite further protests, or will it mark a turning point in the movement?
