Olamide Abiodun Thomas, a nurse and human rights activist, has been arrested by the police in Lagos. The arrest, reportedly ordered by Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, occurred in Shomolu in the early hours of Friday.
This development follows a month-long pursuit by the police. In November, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested Lanre Shotunde, a businessman in Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly as a tactic to track down Thomas. Shotunde, who claimed to know Thomas only through Facebook, was detained on November 6 and released on bail a day later after being pressured to produce her whereabouts.
The reasons for Thomas' arrest remain unclear, as police representatives have not provided any official comment. Calls and messages to Ben Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, went unanswered.
However, there is widespread speculation that her arrest may be linked to her outspoken criticism of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on social media. Sources indicate that police officers had been attempting to contact Thomas for weeks prior to her detention, citing an unspecified petition against her.
Thomas had previously alleged that the police were targeting her due to her activism, particularly her involvement in the #EndSARS memorial and her role in exposing an incident involving politician Tunji Akinosi, whom she accused of assaulting her in 2023.
Human rights advocate and former AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore confirmed her arrest, accusing the police of targeting Thomas for her criticism of their actions. “Muyiwa Adejobi personally ordered her arrest over her posts against police excesses. This is unacceptable and will be resisted. The police must release her immediately,” Sowore wrote on social media.
The hashtag #FreeOlamide has since gained traction on social media, with many activists and supporters calling for her immediate release.
