As the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest enters its tenth day, several youths, including Kunle Ajayi, the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), were arrested by security operatives in Akure, the state capital.
The arrested individuals include AAC governorship candidate Kunle Ajayi, along with Patrick Owolabi, Oluwatobi Akinkuotu, Kolawole Kumuyi, and Olalekan Oladehinde, among others.
A source disclosed that the protesters had gathered at the popular NEPA roundabout, where they were initially dispersed by the state police command. However, the demonstrators refused to leave the venue, leading to the arrests.
One of the protesters, Tope Temokun, condemned the arrest of the nine protesters, stating, “There was no evidence of violence to warrant the arrest of the protesters.” He criticised the actions of the police, calling them an unnecessary use of force.
Temokun elaborated, “The resort to arrest of peaceful protesters by men of the Nigerian police in Akure today is an unnecessary dissipation of energy and uncalled for, particularly regarding the manner in which the protesters have coordinated their protest and what engagement transpired between the protesters and the police before the arrest.”
He also mentioned that the leadership of the Take It Back movement had submitted a letter to the Nigerian Police in Akure the previous day, notifying them of the planned protest and requesting police protection. According to Temokun, the protest began in an orderly manner, with participants carrying placards as they peacefully processed around the NEPA roundabout.
Temokun recounted the sequence of events leading to the arrest, stating, “This arrest took place after the protesters had been engaged by the leadership of the police team, who came and demanded the protesters proceed to a designated approved venue, which was said to be Arcade.”
However, Temokun claimed that this was a trap to isolate and arrest the protesters, adding, “As the protesters were heading there peacefully, they were ambushed by the arresting team of the Nigerian Police, who were acting on orders from above, and arrested the youths.”
Protester Tope Temokun expressed strong disapproval of the arrest, emphasising, “This style of engaging citizens with deceits in civic engagement will not only lead to further loss of total trust and confidence in the police, it is very disgraceful and smacks of playing to the gallery to win an empty accolade from the government.”
He further condemned the actions, stating, “The arrest that took place is highly condemnable and stands condemned. If the government has any evidence of violence from the protesters, it should come out with it.”
However, the state police command has not officially confirmed the arrest of the nine youths. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, when contacted, mentioned she was currently attending to official assignments and would provide further information later.
She remarked, “I am in a meeting; I will get back to you shortly.”
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