Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Michael Lenin, a key figure in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja.
Lenin was detained at around 2 a.m. on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of the city.
Lenin’s arrest was confirmed by Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the ‘Take It Back’ Movement. Adenola stated, “Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 a.m. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.”
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Attempts to reach DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
Michael Lenin, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu’s recent address to the nation. Speaking at a press briefing, Lenin expressed deep disappointment with the President’s broadcast, describing it 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,” Lenin said. “He justified state violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing the demands of the protesters.”
Lenin urged citizens to continue protesting, declaring, “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.”
