Police arrest activist, ABIODUN THOMAS in Lagos

Friday, December 13, 2024 - The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended Nigerian activist, Comrade Abiodun Olamide Thomas, popularly known as "Horlarmidey Africano".

According to Sahara Reporters, she was arrested for criticizing the misconduct of police operatives.SaharaReporters had reported on November 8, how she raised concerns about her safety, alleging that ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, was targeting her.

According to SaharaReporters, it was however gathered on Friday that she was "abducted" in the early hours on Friday in Lagos.

According to sources, the police first arrested her brother on Thursday and used him to track her this morning where she was abducted in her house around Somolu area of Lagos and taking to Alade police station.

One of the sources told SaharaReporters on Friday that the daughter used her phone to send a distress message to the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) loop.

After her arrest, the police released the brother whom they hold as a belt, and then drove Olamide to the State Command, Ikeja, where she is currently being held.

"They first abducted one of his brother yesterday, he was taken to Alade police station before being driven to the state command. I called the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin and he confirmed she’s with them," said one of the sources.

Abiodun, had in November told SaharaReporters that she hasn't committed any crime, other than participating in the #EndSars memorial struggle held on October 20, 2024, during which she was brutalised, her money stolen at the police custody and phone destroyed.

According to her, she had always condemned police brutality, adding "I have always picked hole or punched any posts or comments by Muyiwa especially when he releases press statements about protests or protesters, laced with lies and propaganda. So, he might have been looking for an opportunity to pick me up.

"He has deployed men of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a special tactical squad of the Nigeria Police Force to hunt for me anywhere," the activist said.

She revealed that Adejobi had told so many people that she has case to answer, claiming that she had been bullying many Nigerians including himself on social media and therefore she should turn herself to police or she will be picked up.

Meanwhile she said no police official invitation has been extended to her for committing any crime, wondering whether the Force Police Public Relations Officer wants to use his Police position and brute force to abduct her, to show that he can.

While speaking to SaharaReporters, Abiodun revealed that so many police officers had been calling and asking her to meet them in some locations, probably to abduct her for Adejobi. Some of the policemen had even gone to her social media platforms to bully her.

According to her, one Isijola Victor, a police officer said "they have not beaten me up well and that's why I am still talking. He also called me unprintable names and when I said I'll post it on TIB global platforms, he deleted some of the comments and locked his profile.

"They were much bullying me on my page especially on a particular post."

Narrating the event, she said: "On 27th October, Scotty Aluta Take It Back Movement (TIB), Lagos coordinator called to tell me that SP Benjamin Hundeyin (Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer), requested for my contact from him and he wants to give. So, I said no problem since I know he is my coordinator and I have confidence in the movement.

"SP Hundeyin later called me to say that his boss needed my number, I said okay, he paused for a while on phone and told me it's not the CP (Commissioner of Police) but ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. I asked what Muyiwa needed my number for and he said probably he saw my video online and want to reach out to confirm my state of health, I said okay.

"Four days later which was on a Thursday, (penultimate Thursday), a police officer called me and asked me to come to Ogbomosho, claiming that a petition was written against me. I posted the recorded conversation with the officer subsequently and his contact on the TIB group and lots of Comrades called the officer."

She further stated that when different people were calling her, she raised alarm even on SaharaReporters platform.

Continuing, Abiodun said that on Wednesday evening around past 11pm, one Mr Nwaobi called her from Ogun state to tell her that one Mr Shotunde Lanre was arrested since morning.

"It was said that it was Mr Lanre's mum they (police) arrested when they did not meet him at home and he was asked to show up, and when he went there, he was arrested while his mum was released. They said he is suspected to be dating me and he must provide me. However, Lanre has been released late last night but three of my Facebook friends are also being targeted for arrest. A blogger is also being targeted for arrest.

"I do not have any relationship with Mr Lanre. I even blocked him on Facebook because of his comments on my posts during struggles. He is a politician and a member of APC (All Progressives Congress), who has always condemned most of our struggles and sometimes makes jokes out of serious issues concerning the nation," she narrated.

Abiodun revealed that some police sources have also called and told her that "Olumuyiwa has given instructions to men of the IRT to look for me by all means and bring me down to Abuja as instructed by the IGP (Inspector General of Police).

"I have done nothing wrong, I am only being hunted for participating in the EndSARS memorial struggle.
I am not afraid but just letting Nigerians know that anything can happen from now as they are said to be tracing me through Facebook friends and activists."

She, however noted that when she responded to ACP Olumuyiwa's message yesterday on a loop, he vowed he'll deal with her for bullying him.

Meanwhile, efforts by SaharaReporters to speak with ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls as at the time of filing this report.