The Activist Spaces community has united in condemnation of the abduction of activist and nurse, Abiodun Olamide Thomas, by the Nigeria Police Force. The arrest followed Thomas’ vocal criticism of police brutality, and the community is now demanding her immediate and unconditional release.
Thomas was reportedly apprehended by the Nigerian Police Force on the orders of Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun for her criticism of police misconduct and the comments of Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
On November 8, Olamide had raised concerns about her safety, raising the alarm that ACP Adejobi was targeting her.
Reacting to her arrest, the Activist Spaces community said they were outraged and dismayed by the unwarranted “seizure of Nurse Olamide Thomas, a fearless human rights champion,” in the early hours of Friday.
They said her “abduction” is a heinous act, which the Spaces stated was direct consequence of her courageous expose of the egregious misconduct of law enforcement agents, which she witnessed during one of her interventions on a human rights issue.
The Activist Spaces, however, described the incessant suppression of free speech by law enforcement agents and other state actors as “appalling and unacceptable”.
According to the group, “Nigerian democracy is rapidly unraveling, and the abduction of Nurse Olamide Thomas is a reprehensible example of this trend.
“We, at Activist Spaces, join forces with all conscientious Nigerians, civil society organisations, human rights groups, and advocacy organisations to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Nurse Olamide Thomas.
“We implore the Nigerian Police Force to rechannel their energies towards combating genuine crimes, such as armed robbery, kidnapping, vandalism, and corruption, including the abuse of power by politicians and the misappropriation of public resources.”
Leave a Reply