THE State Security Service (SSS) has denied it arrested one of the #EndBadGovernance protest leaders, Michael Lenin, in Abuja.
In a message posted on its X handle Monday evening, the secret police declared that Lenin was not in its custody.
“The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody,” the Service wrote.
The ICIR reported that the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said operatives of the.Service arrested the activist Sunday night.
In a chat with The ICIR, 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 said Lenin was arrested for being one of the protest organisers.
The spokesperson of the TIB, Abiodun Sanusi, also confirmed Lenin’s arrest to The ICIR.
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 in Abuja, where the government had restricted them.
The Police reportedly fired several tear gas canisters in the direction of the protesters.
It was also gathered that the SSS personnel came later to disperse the remaining protesters and journalists covering them.
Meanwhile, the SSS in its tweet on Monday confirmed that it had arrested some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the city.
The ongoing nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria aims at addressing the lingering hunger crisis experienced since the assumption of President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, according to the organisers.
A reporter with the ICIR
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