The Nigeria Police Force has arrested activist Comrade Abiodun Olamide Thomas, widely known as “Horlarmidey Africano,” following her outspoken criticism of police brutality and misconduct.
Reports indicate that Olamide was abducted early on Friday morning from her home in the Somolu area of Lagos. This followed the previous day's arrest of her brother, who was detained by the police in an attempt to track her location. After her arrest, Olamide was taken to the Alade Police Station and later transferred to the State Command in Ikeja, where she is currently being held.
Her daughter, fearing for her safety, managed to send a distress message to the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) group, alerting them to the situation. Olamide had previously expressed concerns about her safety, especially after ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer, allegedly targeted her because of her vocal opposition to police actions.
Olamide had been an outspoken critic of Adejobi’s press statements and his efforts to discredit protest movements, particularly after the October 20, 2024, #EndSARS memorial protest, during which she was reportedly brutalized by the police. In an interview with SaharaReporters, Olamide stated that her activism and participation in protests were the only offenses she had committed, adding that Adejobi had falsely accused her of online bullying, including against him personally. She also claimed that Adejobi had mobilized the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to track her down.
Furthermore, Olamide shared her experiences of police harassment, including being bullied by officers on her social media platforms. She condemned the police for arresting individuals linked to her, including Mr. Lanre Shotunde, under the pretense of trying to locate her.
