On Monday evening, the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested Adeyemi Abayomi Abiodun, an employee at Iva Valley Bookshop, in connection with the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests. The bookshop, located within Labour House in Abuja and managed by Mr. Drew Povey, has recently been under increased scrutiny by security agencies.
Sources close to the incident revealed that Abiodun was apprehended around 6 p.m. after a day-long pursuit by the IRT team. Earlier in the day, the police detained two other individuals in their efforts to track down Abiodun. After identifying Abiodun, the police released the other detainees but proceeded to confiscate Abiodun’s laptop and his wife’s phone during the operation.
This arrest follows a police raid last Wednesday on the home of Drew Povey, the owner of Iva Valley Books, amid allegations of terrorism financing and connections to the #EndBadGovernance protests. These protests have drawn significant attention, with authorities accusing various individuals and organizations of engaging in activities perceived as subversive to the Nigerian government. The crackdown on those associated with these protests has intensified in recent weeks.
In a related event, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 32 individuals and companies allegedly linked to the protests, including Abiodun. The court instructed banks to enforce a Post-No-Debit (PND) order on the affected accounts and cooperate with the police in detaining anyone attempting to conduct transactions with these accounts.
Iva Valley Bookshop, established as a not-for-profit initiative in 2017, has become a focal point in the ongoing investigation. Operating within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) building, the bookshop offers a variety of books on trade unionism, environmentalism, feminism, and other social issues. It also serves as a resource center for trade unionists and civil society members, providing books at affordable prices and business center services primarily to pensioners.
During last week’s raid, security agents reportedly seized all the books and materials from the shop, alleging that they were being used to incite and organize the #EndBadGovernance protests. However, sources familiar with the situation have disputed these accusations, insisting that the bookshop operates transparently and within the bounds of the law.
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