Deji Adeyanju, the convener of Concerned Nigerians, a political pressure group, has been arrested on Friday, April 21, 2017, following threats he received from the Nigeria Police Force and the country’s secret police over the planned protest in support of detained pro-Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.
Adeyanju, a former new media director in the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had planned to hold a rally protesting the Buhari government’s plan to hold a secret trial for Nnamdi Kanu. The protest is tagged #NoToSecretTrial.
He was arrested at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, the protest ground, along with Brian Jonah Dennis, another leader of the movement.
Deji Adeyanju has been in the forefront of the campaign demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners in Buhari’s regime including Ibrahim El Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
He tweeted news of his arrest just before he was taken away.
Arrested
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) April 21, 2017
On Thursday, Adeyanju revealed to the press that the Nigerian security forces had invited him for a meeting in which he was threatened over the plan to hold a protest rally in support of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Just got out of a 1-hour meeting with [the] commissioner of police of FCT. In attendance was a director of DSS and brigade commander of the Army,” he revealed on micro-blogging website.
“They said there’s security concerns over our rallies. I asked, What concern?
“No, answer.
“Then threats and more threats. I told them, rally will go on as planned tomorrow for #SayNoToSecretTrial and #FreeZakZakky,” the activist wrote.
Then threats and more threats. I told them, rally will go on as planned tomorrow for #SayNoToSecretTrial and #FreeZakZakky on Wednesday.
— Adeyanju Deji ?? (@adeyanjudeji) April 20, 2017
What I could not understand during the meeting I had with the security guys was their hatred for the Shiites. Especially the military guy.
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) April 20, 2017
Dr. John Danfulani, a respected human rights activist and secretary of Concerned Nigerians, weighed in on the situation.
@adeyanjudeji was invited by DSS 4 their usual chat.While interfacing,the DSS threatened him.DSS must know that protest is constitutional.
— john danfulani (@john_danfulani) April 20, 2017
Is DSS now a killer squad? Are they our version of KGB? Don't ever live in fear.No weapon fashioned against u will prosper.Soldier-on,pls https://t.co/dbnnoqkdeL
— john danfulani (@john_danfulani) April 20, 2017
Other activists and concerned citizens have also expressed resolve and concern over this undemocratic situation.
Nothing must happen to @adeyanjudeji . Cc: @PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy . Nigeria does not belong to anybody, it belongs to all of us.
— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) April 20, 2017
