Metro
Police Transfer Female Activist, Abiodun Thomas To FCID Base In Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday transferred the female activist, Abiodun Olamide Thomas, who was “abducted” from her home in Lagos State by lawless police personnel to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja.
A human rights advocacy organisation, the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) which made this known in a post on its social media handle said that Thomas was transported by illegally constituted Nigeria Police Force Courier Service to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en-route Abuja.
The organisation said that the activist was moved to Abuja to face an illegal trial “sponsored by President Bola Tinubu through FPRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the IGP.”
TIB while reiterating its demand for immediate and unconditional release of Thomas wrote, “Human rights activist Olamide Thomas abducted by Nigerian police is now unlawfully flown to FCID Abuja!
“We condemn this blatant disregard for human rights & demand her immediate release!”
SaharaReporters had reported that there was a plot by the Nigeria Police Force to transfer Thomas who was illegally arrested by police operatives on Friday in Lagos State to the Force headquarters Abuja.
SaharaReporters had gathered that Thomas, also known as Horlarmidey Africano, who was arrested on the directive of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for her critical comment on police excesses of which she had been a victim of is currently being held at the Lagos State Police Command.
Sources had told SaharaReporters that SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the state command’s spokesperson, had told some close friends that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is interested in the activist’s case and “wouldn’t take it easy with her.”
“I think they (police in Lagos) are planning to transfer her to Abuja at any moment. They want to inflict her with psychological trauma because Hundeyin said the IG won’t be taking it lightly with her. She may likely be transferred to Abuja tomorrow,” a source had said.
SaharaReporters had reported on Friday that the Nigeria Police Force arrested Thomas for criticising the excesses of the operatives of the Force.
On November 8, it was reported that she raised concerns about her safety, alleging that ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, was targeting her.
SaharaReporters, however, gathered on Friday that she was “abducted” in the early hours on Friday in Lagos.
According to sources, the police first arrested her brother on Thursday and used him to track her this morning where she was abducted in her house around Somolu area of Lagos and taken to Alade police station.
One of the sources told SaharaReporters on Friday that the daughter used her phone to send a distress message to the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) loop.
In November, Thomas told SaharaReporters that she hadn’t committed any crime, other than participating in the #EndSARS memorial struggle held on October 20, 2024, during which she was brutalised, her money stolen at the police custody and her phone destroyed.
According to her, she had always condemned police brutality, adding “I have always picked hole or punched any posts or comments by Muyiwa especially when he releases press statements about protests or protesters, laced with lies and propaganda. So, he might have been looking for an opportunity to pick me up.
“He has deployed men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a special tactical squad of the Nigeria Police Force to hunt for me anywhere,” the activist said.
Meanwhile, efforts by SaharaReporters to speak with ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls as of the time of filing this report.
There is tension among residents of Ikakumo community in Akoko Northeast local government area of Ondo state over the killing of a herdsman during a clash with vigilance group in the locality.
Two other persons including Commander of the vigilance were injured in the clash.
Some residents in the community said they were afraid of reprisal attacks from the herdsmen.
It was gathered that the clash occurred when a member of vigilance group challenged a herdsman who last month kidnapped one Balogun at Ikakumo community in Edo state.
A fracas ensued between the herdsmen and the vigilance group with one of the herders was stabbed to death.
The two injured persons were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
Ondo Police spokesman, Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, confirmed the incident and said investigation has commenced.
The District Head of Odugbeho in Agatu Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state, Chief Anthony Adejoh has been murdered by suspected armed herdsmen.
Reports have it that the royal father and one Jerry John were gruesomely murdered Wednesday afternoon by the marauders at Otobi-Akpa in Otukpo LGA.
The duo were said to be working in their farms in Otobi when the marauders stormed the area and opened fire on them.
They were later discovered dead when the people who heard the sound of gunshots dashed to the scene and found them dead.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Mr. Marvis Ejeh, said Chief Adejo was gruesomely killed on his farm at Akpa-Otobi by armed herders who invaded the area at about 10 am.
He described late royal father as a peace builder, an astute community builder and a community leader who would be greatly missed by all.
The Chairman said, “I can confirm to you that the district head of Odugbeho, Chief Tony Adej,o has been killed. He was killed by some armed herdsmen while working on his farm at Otobi in Otukpo LGA of the State.
“Despite hearing this ugly news, Odugbeho community is calm, our people are calm because we will not take law into our hands.
“Nobody is taking the law into their hands, there is no need for a reprisal attack because the incident did not happen at home. Agatu is calm and peaceful.”
The Agatu Chairman, who enjoined the people to be security conscious wherever they find themselves said “Agatu people residing and farming in other LGAs should be careful and watchful.
“They should liaise with the local authority and know the areas that are safe to work for now, since the government is trying to curb the issue of insecurity in the entire Benue South District or Zone c.”
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Chatherine Anene said she had yet received reports of the incident.
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute 74 individuals apprehended for violating environmental regulations within the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation by the state’s Taskforce in the early hours of Tuesday around 1 a.m., targeting key locations across the Lekki axis of Lagos Island.
The enforcement sweep covered areas including the Falomo Bridge, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Oniru Beach, Lekki Phases 1 and 2, and the 1004 Estate. A total of 72 men and two women were taken into custody.
Wahab explained that the operation aimed to restore order and sanitation in the affected areas.
He added that the suspects will face prosecution in accordance with state laws and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to maintaining a clean, orderly environment for all.
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