Ajayi was arrested in Akure, Ondo State capital alongside a member of a human rights advocacy organisation, Take It Back (TIB) Movement, Patrick Owolabi, during the day 10 of the nationwide hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its clampdown on Nigerians holding nationwide peaceful protest against hunger, hardship and bad governance under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
In its continued determination to muffle the voice of angry Nigerians expressing their pains through peaceful protest, Police operatives on Saturday arrested the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi.
Ajayi was arrested in Akure, Ondo State capital alongside a member of a human rights advocacy organisation, Take It Back (TIB) Movement, Patrick Owolabi, during the day 10 of the nationwide hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
Reacting to Ajayi and Owolabi’s arrest, the TIB leadership demanded their immedaite and unconditional release, describing the police action as unfortunate and shameful.
In a post on its X social media handle, TIB wrote, “It's unfortunate that the @PoliceNG is yet to learn.
“The continued clampdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernceInNigeria protesters is a total shame.
“We condemn the unlawful arrest of Ajayi Wizeman & Patrick Owolabi in Ondo state and we demand their immediate and unconditional release!”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that residents of Ondo State in the Southwest region on Saturday hit the roads in the state in a one-million man march to mark the 10th day of the nationwide protest against hunger, hardship and bad governance under President Tinubu.
The protesting Nigerians on Saturday morning carried banners and placards in photographs seen by SaharaReporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital on the 10th day of the nationwide protests.
The inscription on the banners and placards read, “#We are hungry. End Bad Governance in Nigeria.”
Angry Nigerians have embarked on a 10-day nationwide peaceful hunger and hardship protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria to express the pains they have been subjected to by the economic policies of President Tinubu.
The peaceful protest turned violent in many parts of the country including Nigeria's capital since it started as police and other security agents clamped down on the protesters and journalists and other media professionals covering the protest.