#FreeOlamideNow: Activists Community Demands Release Of Abiodun Thomas, Asks Police To Channel Efforts On Tackling Crimes

SaharaReporters had reported earlier on Friday that the police arrested Olamide Thomas, also known as "Horlarmidey Africano" for criticising the excesses of the operatives of the Force.

The Activist Spaces community has denounced the "abduction" of activist, Nurse Abiodun Olamide Thomas by the Nigeria Police Force for criticising the excesses of the police, while demanding her immediate and unconditional release.

SaharaReporters had reported earlier on Friday that the police arrested Olamide Thomas, also known as "Horlarmidey Africano" for criticising the excesses of the operatives of the Force.

She was reportedly arrested on the directive of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for her critical comment on police excesses which she had been a victim of and she is currently being held at Lagos State Police Command.

On November 8, SaharaReporters reported how she 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."