The Nigerian Police Force, acting on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has transferred female activist Abiodun Olamide Thomas to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja. Thomas, who was reportedly “abducted” from her residence in Lagos State by police operatives, was moved on Saturday, sparking widespread condemnation from human rights advocates.
According to the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), a human rights advocacy group, Thomas was transported via the Nigeria Police Force Courier Service to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and flown to Abuja. The group described her transfer as illegal, alleging that it was orchestrated by President Bola Tinubu in collaboration with Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the IGP.
TIB, in a statement on its social media platforms, reiterated its demand for Thomas’ immediate and unconditional release. “Human rights activist Olamide Thomas abducted by Nigerian police is now unlawfully flown to FCID Abuja! We condemn this blatant disregard for human rights & demand her immediate release!” the group wrote.
Allegations of Political Targeting
Chronicles Reporters previously reported that the police had planned to transfer Thomas, also known as Horlarmidey Africano, to Abuja following her arrest in Lagos on Friday. Sources disclosed that Thomas was detained on the orders of ACP Adejobi due to her outspoken criticism of police misconduct, of which she has been a victim.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, reportedly told close associates that the IGP was personally invested in Thomas’ case and would not take her criticism lightly. “The police in Lagos are planning to transfer her to Abuja at any moment. They want to subject her to psychological trauma because the IG won’t be taking it lightly with her,” a source revealed.
A History of Harassment
Thomas had previously voiced concerns about her safety, particularly after alleging that ACP Adejobi had targeted her for participating in the #EndSARS memorial on October 20, 2024. During the event, she was reportedly brutalized, had her money stolen in police custody, and her phone destroyed.
Sources revealed that Thomas was apprehended in the early hours of Friday at her home in Somolu, Lagos, after the police arrested her brother on Thursday to track her down. She was subsequently taken to Alade Police Station before being transferred to Abuja.
In a distress message sent to the Take-It-Back Movement, Thomas stated that she had done nothing wrong except advocate against police brutality and challenge false narratives propagated by the police. “I have always called out Muyiwa’s lies and propaganda in his press statements about protests or protesters. He might have been looking for an opportunity to pick me up,” she said.
Thomas further alleged that operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a special tactical squad of the Nigerian Police Force, had been deployed to track her down.
Police Silence
Efforts to reach ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
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