Youth Rights Campaign Demands Immediate Release Of Female Activist, Abiodun Thomas, Condemns Nigerian Police

Thomas, also known as "Horlarmidey Africano" was arrested for criticising the excesses of the operatives of the Force and comments of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. 

The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), a human rights advocacy group, has demanded an immediate and unconditional release of the female activist, Nurse Abiodun Olamide Thomas, who was arrested on Friday morning in Lagos State by the Nigeria Police Force on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Thomas, also known as "Horlarmidey Africano" was arrested for criticising the excesses of the operatives of the Force and comments of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. 

The YRC which made the demand in a statement issued by its  National Secretary, Francis Nwapa, berated the Nigeria Police Force for the continued harassment of Nigerians and sustained clampdown on dissent voices.

Nwapa stated, “We condemn the sustained vindictive harassment of Nurse Abiodun Thomas by the Nigeria Police.

“For several months now, Nurse Abiodun Thomas has been a target of the Nigeria Police especially the force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi for her persistent criticism of Police brutality and high-handedness. 

“Nurse Thomas was among protesters who were targeted, brutalized and assaulted by the Nigeria Police during the 4th commemoration of the Lekki Toll Gate  massacre on October 20th, 2024. 

“Since then she has continued to condemn the police for their orchestrated clampdown on unarmed protesters. 

“This has attracted the anger of Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the Nigeria Police who then resorted to trailing, intimidating and arresting her family members and friends just to get at her.

“Just yesterday her uncle was arrested, blindfolded and driven to the Lagos State Police command. This morning Nurse Abiodun Thomas was arrested and taken to the Lagos State Police command.

“YRC condemns in strongest terms the use of state resources to settle personal vendetta or repress dissent by the police. 

“The Nigeria Police must immediately end this impunity and release Nurse Abiodun Thomas unconditionally Now!”

SaharaReporters had reported on November 8, how she raised concerns about her safety, alleging that ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, was targeting her.

She had in November told SaharaReporters that she hasn'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 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.

She revealed that Adejobi had told so many people that she has a case to answer, claiming that she had been bullying many Nigerians including himself on social media and therefore she should turn herself in to police or she would be picked up. 

She noted that when she responded to ACP Olumuyiwa's message yesterday on a loop, he vowed he would deal with her for "bullying him."