Adaramoye Michael, aka Michael Lenin, a prominent leader of the #EndBadGovernance protests, has been released after being detained for over 48 hours. Reporters had reported that Lenin was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday at his home in Apo, Federal Capital Territory, around 2 a.m.
It was learnt that he was later transferred to the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters. His release comes after Reporters reported his arrest on Monday, sparking concerns among supporters of the #EndBadGovernance movement.
Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, stated that Lenin’s house was raided and he was assaulted during the arrest.
“Lenin was arrested by the DSS during a raid on his house around 2 a.m.,” Adenola said.
“He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.”
However, the DSS later denied the arrest of Michael Lenin in a statement posted on its official X account on Monday.
“The DSS can confirm that Adaramoye Michael (aka Michael Lenin) is not in its custody,” it said, but noted that it carried out some other arrests in connection with the ongoing nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance in Nigeria.
A source revealed to Reporters on Wednesday that Michael Lenin has been released from custody. The source disclosed that Lenin was initially arrested by the DSS, blindfolded, and subsequently handed over to the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
He has been released and he said they’re at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The office is at the back of defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),” the source said. “The DSS arrested them and blindfolded them and dropped them to IRT.”
Reporters is yet to confirm the status of two other activists, Babatunde Oluajo (aka OSB Sankara) and Mosiu Sodiq, who were also arrested on Monday.
It remains unclear whether they have been released alongside Michael Lenin or are still in detention.
