The activist community in Nigeria is in war mood once more, against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) over the arrest and incarceration of one Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, who was said to have been ‘abducted’ in a Gestapo-like manner by operatives from her home at Bariga area of Lagos.
The activists in different groups, including The Socialist Workers League (SWL), #EndGovernanceInNigeria Movement and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), wondered why the police should take the nurse away from her home in the wee hours of Friday.
According to the activists, Nurse Thomas, a member of the SWL and Take It Back (TIB) Movement, is a leader of rank-and-file workers, whose courageous activism in defence of working people and the oppressed, had brought her into direct confrontation with the police on numerous occasions, leading to threats and intimidation.
The groups, in separate statements made available to Sunday Independent, stated that Nurse Thomas was forced into hiding a month ago when it came to light that she was a person of interest for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for her criticism of police brutality and corruption.
A statement issued by the Socialist Workers League (SWL) vehemently condemned what it termed “the abduction of Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide” by police officers.
The statement signed by SWL’s National Chairperson, Kunle Ajayi, and the National Secretary, Amara Nwosu, maintained that the Nigerian Police Force, far from being an institution dedicated to preventing crime or protecting lives and property, is primarily an apparatus of state repression designed to maintain the status quo and suppress dissent.
This, it stressed, is evident in the numerous cases of police brutality and arbitrary arrests that occur with impunity across the country.
The SWL added: “The abduction of Nurse Thomas is just the latest example of this trend, highlighting the NPF’s willingness to use violence and intimidation to silence those who dare to challenge the system.
“As a matter of fact, the NPF was only able to track her down by arresting her uncle yesterday (Thursday) under false pretences, purporting to settle a business dispute.
“He was kept in detention till 4.30 am this morning (Friday) when he was coerced to lead them to her exact location at her residence.”
SWL alleged that in an earlier attempt to arrest the nurse a few weeks ago, one of her colleagues was arrested through the police infiltration of a WhatsApp group, adding however, that the policeman did not know her residence.
The group said: “This Gestapo-like approach of the police is unacceptable. SWL demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Thomas.
“We call on all organisations of working-class people to join in calling for her release forthwith. An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Also, #EndGovernanceInNigeria, Lagos State Chapter, in its statement titled, ‘Police Must Release Nurse Abiodun Thomas Now’, condemn the arrest of Nurse Abiodun Thomas.
It called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to order her immediate and unconditional release, even as it described her as a prominent activist and critic of President Tinubu’s anti-poor policies as well as the unlawful conduct of the Nigerian police.
A statement signed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji, for the Organising Committee, #EndGovernanceInNigeria, recalled that just two months ago, the embattled nurse raised alarm that the police were after her life due to her criticism of the police, including the activities of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The group added: “Of recent, she has been involved in seeking justice for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State.
“The Nigeria Police must stop the unending trailing and harassment of Nurse Abiodun Thomas for simply being vocal against police brutality, extortion and intimidation. We demand her immediate release now!”
In a related development, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) called for an immediate and unconditional release of Nurse Abiodun Thomas, even as it condemned what it termed “a sustained vindictive harassment of Nurse Abiodun Thomas by the Nigeria Police.”
The YRC, in a statement signed by Francis Nwapa, its National Secretary, stated that for several months now, Nurse Abiodun Thomas had been a target of the Police, “especially the force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for her persistent criticism of Police brutality and high-handedness.”
The YRC said: “Nurse Thomas was among protesters who were targeted, brutalised and assaulted by the Nigeria Police during the fourth commemoration of the Lekki Toll Gate massacre on October 20, 2024.
“Since then, she has continued to condemn the police for their orchestrated clampdown on unarmed protesters. This has attracted the anger of Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the Nigeria Police, who then resorted to trailing, intimidating and arresting her family members and friends just to get at her.
“Just yesterday (Thursday), her uncle was arrested, blindfolded and driven to the Lagos State Police Command.
“This morning (Friday) Nurse Abiodun Thomas was arrested and taken to the Lagos State Police Command.
“YRC condemns in strong terms the use of state resources to settle personal vendetta or repress dissent by the police.
“The Nigeria Police must immediately end this impunity and release Nurse Abiodun Thomas unconditionally Now!”
