However, a government told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that Juwon was taken by the DSS over a comment allegedly made at a press conference before the protest.
Take It Back National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu was arrested by Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services, a top government source has confirmed to SaharaReporters.
The DSS and the police have been silent on the arrest of the activist since his ‘abduction’ on Tuesday night in Lagos.
Several efforts made to reach the DSS and Lagos police command spokespersons, Peter Afunanya and Benjamin Hundeyin respectively, failed as neither of them answered their calls nor replied to the text messages sent to them.
However, a government official told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that Juwon was taken by the DSS over a comment allegedly made at a press conference before the protest.
“DSS is holding TIB Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu and he was kidnapped for some things he said at a press conference before the protest,” the government source said.
“They plan to move him to Abuja from Lagos.”
A coalition of civil society organisations and the African Action Congress on Tuesday night announced the arrest of Juwon, one of the coordinators of #WeAreHungry nationwide protest, ahead of the demonstration on Wednesday, June 12.
The CSOs and African Action Congress in their statement announcing the arrest said, "Information reaching us as at 10.05 pm is that one of the coordinators of the #WeAreHungry Protests slated for tomorrow 12 June 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 has 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 mobilized by the Presidency, is too late. Nigerian are not deterred as they have resolved to protest against hardship and nothing shall stop them tomorrow.”
TIB on Wednesday demanded his immediate release.
A statement by 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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