#EndBadGovernment: Abuja Alleged Protest Organizer Arrested by DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested one of the leaders of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory, Micheal Lenin.

Lenin, who is the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, was apprehended at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT around 2 am on Monday.

According to the Director of Mobilisation, “Take It Back Movement”, Damilare Adenola, Lenin’s house was raided by the DSS, and he was allegedly assaulted during the arrest.

Adenola stated, “Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 am. He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family.

We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.” 

The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, could not be reached for comment at the time of reporting. Lenin had recently participated in a press briefing where he expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday, stating that the President’s remarks demonstrated a lack of understanding of the realities in the country. The arrest of Lenin, a prominent organizer of the #EndBadGovernanceprotests, has raised concerns about the government’s response to the ongoing demonstrations. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as the authorities’ actions are scrutinized.

The public has expressed disappointment at the latest address to the nation by President Tinubu, which was his first response to the #EndBadGovernance protests that have been ongoing for over three weeks. Many had expected the President to address the nation at the outset of the protests when they were being mobilized and beginning to escalate.

However, the President’s speech has been perceived as justifying state violence against protesters and journalists, while dismissing the demands of the protesters. This, coupled with the failed attempt to co-opt the progressive and radical language of the protests, suggests that President Tinubu is out of touch with the concerns of the masses.

In a statement, Lenin called for the protests to continue on a massive scale on Monday, urging citizens to come out in large numbers. He has emphasized that the two-pronged approach of violence and propaganda has failed, and the demands of the protesters must be met.