June 13, (THEWILL)- The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has not invited, arrested or detained the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), Juwon Sanyaolu.
This follows reports that Sanyaolu, one of the coordinators of the June 12 #WeAreHungry protests, had been declared missing.
The pro-democracy and human rights group had accused the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of the disappearance of Sanyaolu.
But in a post on Thursday on X, the DSS said Sanyaolu was not in its custody.
“Juwon Sanyaolu, Coordinator of TAKE IT BACK MOVEMENT is NOT with the DSS. He was NOT invited, arrested or detained by the Service”, the post read
THEWILL Recall that a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the African Action Congress (AAC), on Tuesday night, announced the arrest of Sanyaolu, one of the coordinators of the #WeAreHungry nationwide protest, ahead of the demonstration on Wednesday, June 12.
The CSOs and AAC in their statement had alleged, “Information reaching us as of 10.05 pm is that one of the coordinators of the #WeAreHungry Protests slated for tomorrow June 12, 2024, has been arrested by security agents in Lagos, following series of threats by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force to clampdown on peaceful democracy day protest.
“Around 10 pm, Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon, the National Coordinator of the TIB sent distress messages to members of the movement saying he had been arrested and taken to an unknown location. Efforts to reach him have been futile.
“We are not surprised at this strategy of intimidation but the news we have for this tyrannical and ruinous Tinubu regime is that the arrest is rather too late. The veil is off and Nigerians can see through the cluelessness of this government.
“We want to state categorically that the tactics of the Nigeria Security apparatus already mobilised by the Presidency, is too late. Nigerians are not deterred as they have resolved to protest against hardship and nothing shall stop them tomorrow.”
In a statement on Wednesday, TIB National PRO/Media, Comrade Olabiyi Ade Stephen, demanded an end to the harassment of peaceful protesters in the country.
He added that the police and DSS must recognise the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
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