Take It Back Movement Demands Immediate Release of Kola Edokpayi, Arrested by DSS for Expressing Solidarity with Burkina Faso’s, Leader, Traore

PRESS STATEMENT

Take It Back Movement Demands Immediate Release of Kola Edokpayi, Arrested by DSS for Expressing Solidarity with Burkina Faso’s, Leader, Traore

The Take It Back Movement (TIB), Edo State Chapter, unequivocally condemns arrest of Comrade Marxist Kola Edokpayi, the lleader of the Talakawa Parliament, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Benin City.

Comrade Edokpayi was arrested on Saturday, 30th of April, 2025 for expressing solidarity with the government of Burkina Faso led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

This blatant act of political repression is not only unlawful but a direct attack on the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens, particularly those who choose to question the status quo and challenge systemic oppression.

Kola Edokpayi is a well-known voice of the voiceless — a relentless advocate for the poor, the working class, and the downtrodden in Edo State and beyond.

He has consistently mobilized the masses under the platform of the Talakawa Parliament, a grassroots movement that champions the rights of ordinary Nigerians against elite exploitation.

We emphasize that Kola Edokpayi has committed no crime known to Nigerian or international law. His show of support for Captain Ibrahim Traore does not in any way justify his arrest. In fact, freedom of thought, expression, and association are guaranteed under Sections 38, 39, and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as under several international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

This arrest is therefore not only legally indefensible but morally reprehensible. It has become a dangerous trend in Nigeria where the machinery of the state is increasingly being weaponized against activists, journalists, students, and ordinary citizens who demand better governance.

The Take It Back Movement views this action as part of a broader assault on dissent and a continuation of the Nigerian state’s intolerance toward ideological opposition and revolutionary thought.

The Nigerian people must not be made to live in fear for simply holding views that challenge neocolonial dominance or Western hegemony.

Accordingly, we make the following demands:

1. The immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Kola Edokpayi from DSS custody.
2. A public explanation and apology from the Department of State Services for this illegal detention.
3. An end to the surveillance, harassment, and intimidation of political activists, particularly those expressing their views and demanding good governance.

Let it be made abundantly clear: we will not sit idly by while Nigerians are unjustly silenced. The arrest of Kola Edokpayi is an attack on all freedom fighters and progressive forces in Nigeria. The movement will continue to mobilize, agitate, and speak out until justice is served.

Signed,
Comrade Hafiz Lawal
Coordinator, Take It Back Movement
Edo State Chapter