Deji Adeyanju, co-convener of Concerned Nigerians, also known as the ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ group, has been arrested by the police in Abuja while taking part in the free Zakzaky protest by members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
According to tweets by the official Twitter handle of his group, @ConcernedNIG, he was arrested at the Unity Fountain, Maitama where members of the movement were having sit-out demanding the release of their detained leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Shiite members started a daily sit-out at the Unity Fountain on Thursday.
The Twitter handle said Deji was being held at the FCT police command.
Our Convener Deji Adeyanju has just been arrested by the Nigerian Police at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.
— Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) April 13, 2018
A Police officer just told @adeyanjudeji now that ‘The Nigerian government will give him what he’s been looking for’.
He’s currently being detained at @PoliceNG FCT command.
— Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) April 13, 2018
Witnesses said the police stormed the Unity Fountain and fired teargas at the protesters.
We are currently under attack by officers and men of the Nigerian @PoliceNG.@AmnestyNigeria@amnestyusa@hrw @SaharaReporters @CNN @BBCWorld @PressTV @AFP @MobilePunch @AlJazeera @vanguardngrnews @ruthmaclean @ChidiOdinkalu @Tutsy22 pic.twitter.com/aZTt6QXz1Y
— Concerned Nigerians (@ConcernedNIG) April 13, 2018
The officers thereafter reportedly picked up Deji and other leaders of the group
On Thursday, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG), a strategic support platform for President Muhammadu Buhari, called for the arrest of Adeyanju for alleged sedition.
The BMSG alleged that the offence was committed when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a current affairs programme on Channels TV, on Tuesday.
The BMSG, in a statement signed by Austin Braimoh and Cassidy Madueke, Chairman and Secretary respectively, claimed that Adeyanju said President Buhari was immediately taken to a hospital after he landed in the United Kingdom.
The group said such statements are capable of inciting unrest in the country.
When contacted, Anjuguri Manza, Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, said he was unaware of the arrest.
“When was that?” he asked. “I’m not aware of that; I have been out of office since morning.”