Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Micheal Lenin, a key leader of the ongoing EndBadGovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lenin was detained around 2 a.m. on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of FCT.
Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, confirmed the arrest, alleging that Lenin was assaulted during the raid. “Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 a.m. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola stated.
Attempts to reach DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya for comments have been unsuccessful, as he has yet to respond to messages.
Lenin, who serves as the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, had recently criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast, calling it out of touch with the nation’s reality. “We wish to express our sadness and deep disappointment at the latest broadcast by President Tinubu.
It is his first address to the nation on the #EndBadGovernance protests after over three weeks of mobilisation and after scores of dead protesters and assaulted journalists,” Lenin remarked during a press briefing.
He further criticised the president for justifying state violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing the demonstrators’ demands. “Many had requested that the President address the nation when the protest was being mobilised and when it started to escalate. Most of us did not know that the President would only justify state violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing the demands of the protesters whenever he decided to speak,” Lenin added.
Lenin has called for continued protests, urging citizens to join in large numbers. “We call on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to continue these protests on Monday until our demands are met. The violence and repressions are just attempts to silence and control us, and the propaganda cannot sway or fool us,” he stated.
The EndBadGovernance protests have been marked by widespread demonstrations against perceived government failures, with protesters demanding significant political and social reforms.
