Olamide Thomas, a nurse and outspoken human rights activist, has been transferred to Abuja following her arrest in Lagos for remarks she made during a live Facebook video.
The comments, directed at President Bola Tinubu, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Force spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were made after Thomas was allegedly subjected to police brutality during the #EndSARS memorial procession at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2024.
In the video, streamed on her Facebook page, Thomas expressed her frustration and distress, condemning the police for their actions and calling for divine intervention.
She also appeared visibly shaken, requesting water after reportedly inhaling tear gas during the police crackdown on the procession.
Thomas was arrested at her Shomolu home in Lagos early on Friday by officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a specialized unit under the Inspector-General of Police.
Her arrest was reportedly based on information gathered through her uncle, who had been detained previously.
After being briefly held at the Panti Police Station in Yaba and later at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, Thomas was denied administrative bail.
She was then flown to Abuja, where she was handed over to the Cybercrime Unit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).
Activist Netufo Tomide confirmed the transfer, stating, “She has been moved to the Police Cybercrime Centre under the FCID in Abuja.”
Thomas’ ally, Folayemi Akinfolarin, also confirmed speaking with her after she arrived in Abuja.
Omoyele Sowore, another prominent human rights activist, also shared news of Thomas’ arrest on Facebook, calling for her immediate release.
“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 !” Sowore wrote.
Despite several attempts, police spokespersons have not confirmed details of the arrest or transfer.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, declined to comment, while FCID spokesperson Funmi Eguaoje said she would provide information once available.
The exact charges against Thomas remain unclear.
However, her arrest follows the police’s heavy-handed approach to the #EndSARS memorial procession in Lagos, during which 23 activists were detained and tear-gassed.
Earlier reports revealed that Thomas’ Facebook friend, Lanre Shotunde, had been detained in Ogun State in connection with efforts to locate her.
The arrest has sparked widespread outrage, particularly among groups like the Socialist Workers League (SWL), who condemned Thomas’ detention as an “abduction.”
The SWL described her arrest as politically motivated and called for her immediate release.
The October 20 #EndSARS memorial is an annual event in Nigeria to honor victims of the 2020 Lekki Tollgate shooting, where security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters demanding an end to police brutality.
The #EndSARS movement, initially focused on the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has since grown into a broader call for systemic reforms and an end to governance failures.
