Officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Mr. Micheal Lenin, a prominent leader of the ongoing hunger protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lenin, who serves as the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was detained at approximately 2:00 AM on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of Abuja.
Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, reported that Lenin was subjected to physical assault by DSS operatives during the arrest.
“Lenin was arrested by the DSS during a raid on his home in the early hours of the morning. He was not only detained but also tortured in the presence of his family. We demand his immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola stated.
Lenin had recently criticized President Bola Tinubu’s national address regarding the ongoing protests. In a press briefing, he expressed his disappointment with the President’s speech, claiming it demonstrated a disconnect from the realities faced by Nigerians.
“We are deeply disappointed with President Tinubu’s latest broadcast, his first address to the nation concerning the #EndBadGovernance protests, which have been ongoing for over three weeks. The speech fails to acknowledge the protesters’ grievances, despite the deaths and assaults on journalists in the initial days of the demonstrations,” Lenin stated.
He also criticized President Tinubu for defending state violence against protesters and journalists, and for dismissing the demands of the movement.
“The President’s attempt to co-opt the progressive language of the protests only highlights how out of touch he is with the masses,” Lenin added.
Despite his arrest, Lenin has called for the protests to continue, urging Nigerians to turn out in large numbers on Monday.
“The government’s use of violence and propaganda is an effort to silence and control us, but these tactics will not succeed,” he said.
The arrest of Lenin and the ongoing protests highlight the growing tension between the government and citizens who are demanding better governance and improved economic conditions.
