The Save-Public-Education-Campaign, Nigeria, (SPEC) group has called for the unequivocal release of Comrade Michael Lennin and other activists apprehended together with him amid the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
According to the group Lennin, an educational Rights Activist and others were kidnapped by security agencies on Monday, 5th August, 2024.
The convener of the group, Comrade Vivian Bello had also condemned the incident in strong terms through a statement that issued on Tuesday.
What They’re Saying
The statement reads in part
“The Save Public-Education-Campaign, Nigeria, SPEC has condemned in strong terms the abduction of Michael Lennin, an educational rights activist in the wee hours of Monday, the 5th of August.
“Lennin is a very committed and patriotic citizen who has vigorously championed the cause of access to education for youths and the masses of Nigeria.”The statement continued
“He is the national coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign, (ERC), a sister organization with which SPEC collaborates closely, in its works.“Lennin has been actively involved in coordinating the peaceful Mass Protest in Abuja, going on to demand an end to bad governance in the country.
“Information reaching Save-Public-Education-Campaign, Nigeria, showed that Michael Lennin along with two other activists, Mosiu Sodiq and Sankara, were abducted in a gestapo manner from their abode by these security operatives, taken away and have since remained incommunicado.
“Lennin and his co-activists have not committed any offence and this brazen abduction and illegal detention represent yet another sad phase of state-sponsored repression against civic space.”
In conclusion to the statement, the group clamoured for the detainees be released or charged to court if there is any case against them.
Why It Matters
Michael Lenin’s abduction is a stark reminder of how the freedom of speech in Nigeria is greatly hampered by the authorities who are supposed to serve its citizens.
In general, human rights advocates are commonly treated poorly in the country so this incident did not completely come as a surprise, but it is a very condemnable act.
Thankfully, the response from the Save-Public-Education-Campaign, Nigeria (SPEC), and other groups have shown the solidarity among activists and organisations working towards freeing him.
