Lagos-based nurse and human rights activist Olamide Thomas has been transferred to Abuja following her arrest over comments made during a live Facebook broadcast.
Known for her outspoken stance on human rights, Thomas had directed her remarks at President Bola Tinubu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The comments followed an alleged instance of police brutality during the #EndSARS memorial procession at Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2024.
In the broadcast, Thomas appeared visibly distressed and reportedly affected by tear gas, expressing frustration and invoking divine power to condemn the alleged police actions.
The video, streamed after police reportedly dispersed demonstrators at the procession, showed her pleading for water after inhaling tear gas.
According to reports, Thomas was arrested at her Shomolu, Lagos, residence in the early hours of Friday by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a unit under the Inspector-General of Police.
Her location was reportedly tracked through her uncle, who had been detained earlier. Initially taken to Panti Police Station in Yaba and later to the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, Thomas was denied administrative bail.
On Saturday, she was flown to Abuja and handed over to the Cybercrime Unit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
An associate, activist Netufo Tomide, confirmed that Thomas had been transferred to the Police Cybercrime Centre in Abuja. Another ally, Folayemi Akinfolarin, said she received a call from Thomas upon her arrival in Abuja.
Renowned activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the arrest in a Facebook post, stating, “This evening, I learned that Nurse Olamide Thomas Abiodun is being held by the Nigeria Police Force at Panti in Lagos, awaiting instructions from Police PPRO Muyiwa Adejobi from Abuja.
The Nigeria Police are advised to free her immediately.” The Socialist Workers League, a group Thomas is affiliated with, described her arrest as an “abduction” and issued a statement condemning the police’s actions.
Efforts to obtain comments from police officials have so far been met with silence. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hundeyin neither confirmed nor denied the transfer, while FCID spokesperson Funmi Eguaoje stated, “I’ll let you know when I have the details.”
Attempts to reach Force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi for comments were unsuccessful.
The specific charges against Thomas remain unclear. However, her arrest is part of a broader crackdown on activists during the #EndSARS memorial.
On October 20, commemorated annually in memory of the 2020 Lekki Tollgate shooting where security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters, reports indicated that 23 activists were arrested and teargassed at the tollgate.
The #EndSARS movement, originally launched to protest against the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has grown into a symbol of resistance against systemic governance failures in Nigeria.
Thomas’ arrest has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians calling for her immediate release.
