#EndBadGovernance: Protest Leader Michael Lenin Arrested By DSS After Criticising Tinubu’s Address, Urging Continued Protests

Department of State Services (DSS) Operatives have arrested one of the #EndBadGovernance protest leaders, Adaramoye Michael, also known as Michael Lenin, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Lenin, the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and National Mobilisation Officer of Education Rights Campaign (ERC) was arrested at around 2 am on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of Abuja.

His arrest was confirmed by Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the ‘Take It Back’ Movement. Adenola stated that Lenin’s house was raided and that he was assaulted during his arrest.

Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 am. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola said.

Before his arrest, Lenin, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja after President Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast, expressed disappointment, describing the President’s address to protesters as out of touch with the realities faced by Nigerians.

We wish to express our sadness and deep disappointment at the latest broadcast by President Tinubu which is his first address to the nation on the #EndBadGovernance protests, after over three weeks since Nigerians started mobilising to take to the streets and after scores of dead protesters and assaulted journalists from the first three days of the protests,” Lenin said.

Criticising the President for justifying state violence against protesters and journalists and for dismissing the demands of the protesters, Lenin added:

Many had requested that the President should just address the nation when the protest was being mobilised and when it started to escalate, but most of us did not know that the President would only justify state violence on protesters and journalists while dismissing the demands of the protesters whenever he decides to speak. This, plus the failed attempt to co-opt the progressive and radical language of the protests only shows how much President Tinubu is out of touch with the masses.”

He further announced that the protests would continue vigorously on Monday, calling on citizens to participate in large numbers.

“We, therefore, call on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to continue these protests on Monday until our demands are met. The two-pronged approach of violence and propaganda has failed. The violence and repressions are just attempts to silence and control us, and the propaganda cannot sway or fool us,” he declared.

Lenin’s arrest may not be unconnected to his criticism of the President and bold call for the protest to continue.

West Africa Weekly reported that the #Endbadgovernance nationwide protest was slated for August 1 to August 10. Today marks the fifth day of undeterred protests by Nigerian youths marked by multiple arrests, killings, and attacks on the part of security personnel in a bid to silence protesters demanding better governance.

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