In a statement issued on Thursday, Adeyanju called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained protesters, including well-known activist Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, who was arrested during the demonstrations.
Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned the arrest and detention of activists in Lagos following protests against demolition exercises, called it a deliberate attempt to criminalize poverty and silence dissent.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Adeyanju called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained protesters, including well-known activist Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, who was arrested during the demonstrations.
According to Adeyanju, the arrests reflect a disturbing pattern of targeting poor and vulnerable citizens who are merely demanding justice and accountability from the authorities.
“I strongly condemn the arrest of activists, including Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, during protests in Lagos. Targeting the poor and criminalizing poverty is unacceptable,” Adeyanju said
He stressed that standing up for the oppressed and resisting policies that deepen hardship should never be treated as a criminal offence.
“It is not a crime to fight for the downtrodden and oppressed, and no one should be punished for standing up for justice and human dignity,” he added.
The protests, which took place in parts of Lagos, were organised in response to demolition exercises that have left many residents displaced, homeless, and without adequate alternatives or compensation.
Rights groups and civil society organizations have repeatedly criticized such demolitions, arguing that they disproportionately affect the urban poor while benefiting powerful interests.
Adeyanju warned that suppressing peaceful protests through arrests and intimidation poses a serious threat to democracy.
“Activism is important to any democratic society, and those who raise their voices for fairness and accountability must be allowed to do so without fear of violence or detention,” he stated.
He further urged security agencies and government authorities to desist from using state power to intimidate citizens exercising their fundamental rights.
“I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Soweto and all others who have been wrongfully detained, and urge authorities to stop punishing people for demanding their rights,” Adeyanju said.