Nigerians have taken to social media to berate police authorities for the arrest of Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Prince Deji Adeyanju and two others on Wednesday.
Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams were arrested in Abuja for inciting public disturbance, threat to public security and safety among others.
The trio were protesting Tuesday’s invasion of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly by police personnel and thugs.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood said the suspects were arrested within the powers provided under the constitution, Police Act and Regulations, the Penal Code Law and Procedures.
Moshood said that rights of every Nigerian as stated in the 1999 Constitution as amended was not absolute.
Read Also: Deji Adeyanyu, 2 Others With Us – Police
“The Constitutional rights of every Nigerian as stated in first paragraph in sections 38, 39, 40 and 41, these rights are not absolute as section 45 of the same Constitution provides for derogations to these rights,“he said.
But reactions have trailed the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the trio.
See comments monitored on Twitter:
The arrest of @adeyanjudeji for peacefully protesting about the shameful behaviour of the police in Akwa Ibom and elsewhere represents the last kick of a govt. that can best be described as a dying horse. I condemn it and I call for Deji's immediate and unconditional release.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) November 28, 2018
Deji Adeyanju should be freed unconditionally or should be charged to court.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) November 28, 2018
He stood for the Shiites. He stood for IPOB. He stood for victims of SARS.
He stood for the common man and woman. He stood against injustice, human rights violation and abuse of office.
It is time to stand with Deji.
#FreeDejiNow #FreeDejiNow #FreeDejiNow #FreeDejiNow pic.twitter.com/7SjSoSmYQk
— Uchenna (@Demoore90210) November 28, 2018
You don’t have to agree with @adeyanjudeji’s politics to get the implication of his arrest by the Police, for leading a protest to ask for police neutrality in the 2019 elections.
This series of crackdowns on protesters betrays this thing we call a democracy. #FreeDejiAdeyanju
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) November 28, 2018
Repressing peaceful protest is not only morally treasonable but dangerous in its propensity to trigger a violent counterpart. No democratic administration can flourish without criticism, as the very foundation of democracy is undermined when dissent is silenced #FreeDejiAdeyanju
— Dr Olusegun Mimiko (@Segunmimiko) November 28, 2018
IGP Idris has sent his men running helter skelter looking for a court to use in keeping @adeyanjudeji locked up.
They went to Margistrate Court in Zone 2 trying to get a remand order, they couldn’t get.
They have now taken him to Karshi.
DEMONIC DESPERATION #FreeDejiAdeyanju
— Ndi Kato (@YarKafanchan) November 28, 2018
I Bolanle Cole join my voice in condemning this act of arrest and demanding his immediate release!!!✊#FreeDejiNow#FreeDejiAdeyanju pic.twitter.com/sURIaoscsa
— T. Bolanle Cole Esq.🇳🇬 (@BolanleCole) November 28, 2018
Nigeria has descended to an all time low in everything. What kind of country do they arrest people for being patriotic???? How can you arrest a citizen that is peacefully demanding for a free and fair election? Buhari and his handlers are sick, they need help. #FreeDejiNow pic.twitter.com/WOeVJ4v3H2
— Ali G (@aligthebaptist) November 28, 2018
In a democracy, citizens should be allowed to protest and ventilate their views and grievances. Anything short of this is dictatorship. Full stop. #FreeDejiNow
— Ohimai Godwin Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) November 28, 2018
The @PoliceNG arrested @adeyanjudeji and two other persons this morning for protesting against Police involvement in politics, I learnt they are planning to charge him to court, I wonder what the charge will me. This is what democracy has reduced to under Buhari. #FreeDejiNow
— Olúyẹmí Fásípè 🇳🇬 (@YemieFASH) November 28, 2018
#FreeDejiNow: The Police are now taking @adeyanjudeji to magistrate court Wuse Zone II, they are charging him for public disturbance. Protest has now become public disturbance in Nigeria. This can not be democracy. #FreeDejiAdeyanju pic.twitter.com/tWdFXrnkdg
— Olúyẹmí Fásípè 🇳🇬 (@YemieFASH) November 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/iamhistory_/status/1067752264213901312?s=19
https://twitter.com/OurMumuDonDo/status/1067799251584000000?s=19
https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/1067777459553280007?s=19