THE State Security Service (SSS) has allegedly arrested one of the leaders of the ongoing nationwide protest, Michael Lenin, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lenin was said to have been arrested by operatives of the secret service around 2 am on Monday, August 5, at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT.
In a chat with The ICIR, the Director of Mobilisation of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), one of the groups organising the #EndBadGovernance protest, Damilare Adenola, alleged that the SSS was responsible for the arrest and claimed Lenin was picked up from his house.
He also added that he was assaulted during his arrest.
“He has been arrested. He was arrested over the night.”
Adenola claimed there was no news yet on the activist’s whereabouts after the arrest.
He confirmed that he was arrested for being one of the protest organisers.
The spokesperson of the TIB, Abiodun Sanusi also confirmed Lenin’s arrest to The ICIR in a chat.
Adenola also said that protesters who gathered at the Gudu area of the FCT to continue their protest early Monday morning were dispersed by the security operatives.
During a press briefing on Sunday, Lenin was among the organisers who voiced their dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast.
He claimed at the briefing that the President’s broadcast showed how far he was from the country’s economic and other realities.
The ICIR reported on Saturday, August 3, that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) and the Army chased away protesters and journalists from the MKO stadium, Abuja.
The Police reportedly fired several tear gas canisters in the direction of the protesters who were demonstrating against the high rate of poverty and hunger in Abuja on Saturday, August 3.
It was also gathered that the State Security Service (SSS) personnel came later to disperse the remaining journalists and protesters.
The ICIR also reported that on the second day of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Abuja on Friday, August 2, protesters witnessed violence with police throwing tear gas canisters at demonstrators.
Security operatives had taken strategic positions at the stadium even before the protest began on Thursday, August 1.
The nationwide protest is aimed at addressing the lingering hunger crisis experienced since the assumption of President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to the organisers.
The SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not respond to calls, texts and WhatsApp messages from The ICIR over the alleged arrest when filing this report.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance