JIMOH Moshood, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, says police  arrested Deji Adeyanju, a popular activist, on Wednesday and  arraigned in court in Abuja.

Moshood stated that Adeyanju was arrested alongside two others namely, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams, during a protest. They were accused of criminal defamation and breach of peace.

The police spokesman said Adeyanju, Abobama, and Williams had committed offences contrary to the criminal statutes by their conduct both physically and online.

He cited some placards and screenshots of Adeyanju’s social media posts which he said were defamatory, derogatory against constituent authority, and capable of inciting public disturbance and breach of law and order.

Moshood said the arrest of the trio did not violate either the Nigerian Constitution or the police establishment powers, adding that they have rights. “These rights must be observed with decorum, in good faith and without violating the rights of other millions of Nigerians to free movement and access to safety and security across the country,” he said.

Adeyanju tweeted earlier in the day that his group was on the way to Force Headquarters to hold a rally against Police partisanship tagged #PoliceNotPoliticians.

The activist is known to have taken part in a number of anti-government protests. He was the co-leader of the ‘Resume or Resign’ group which, during the time President Muhammadu Buhari was away in London on medical leave, called on him to either return home and resume duties or resign.

Also, Adeyanju is part of the ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ group that is clamourig for a drastic change in the status quo of doing things in Nigeria.

Reports say he has been arrested at least three times so far in 2018 while leading or participating in protests.

A hashtag #FreeDeji Adeyanju is already trending on the social media as Nigerians call on the police to release Adeyanju.