The Take-It-Back movement is urging the Ondo State Police to release student activist Patrick Owolabi, who has been detained since participating in a recent protest against bad governance in Nigeria.
In a statement shared on their X account on Tuesday, the movement revealed that several other protesters have also been held in custody. The group emphasized the need for the immediate release of all detained individuals, stressing the importance of upholding their rights. The statement highlighted, “Patrick Owolabi, a student activist, remains in police detention in Ondo after his involvement in the protest. The Nigerian Police Force must respect his rights and ensure his prompt release.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters detailed how the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its crackdown on peaceful protests nationwide. These protests are driven by frustrations over hunger, hardship, and poor governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. On Saturday, the Police arrested Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Ondo State, alongside Patrick Owolabi, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement. They were detained during the tenth day of the nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
In response to the arrests, TIB condemned the police’s actions, describing them as disgraceful. The group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ajayi and Owolabi, stating on their X account, “It’s unfortunate that the @PoliceNG has not learned. The continued crackdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters is utterly shameful. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ajayi Wizeman & Patrick Owolabi in Ondo state!”
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