A police spokesperson said those arrested played roles in the arson that followed the protests in October.

The Osun State Police Command have arrested two people for being administrators of a WhatsApp group used for mobilisation for #EndSARS protest in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed that two individuals, Babawale Popoola and Fisayo Aderemi, were arrested and detained since Thursday.

The police are claiming that the duo knew about the looting that occurred a few weeks ago as administrators of #EndSARS WhatsApp groups, hence, they are being asked to provide their members.

Sources familiar with the arrest told PREMIUM TIMES that the duo were arrested in the state capital, in Osogbo.

When contacted, the state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, did not deny the arrest of WhatsApp group admins.

She, however, told our correspondent that the two persons detained played roles in the arson that followed the protests in the state. Asked why they were yet to be arraigned, she simply said “they are still being investigated. After the investigation, we will know what to do.”

For weeks in October, Nigerians were on the streets protesting against police brutality across the nation. They were demanding an end to criminality by security operatives and the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian police.

During the agitations, dozens of persons were killed including protesters and police officers. Officers were also captured using tear gas and live bullets to disperse the protesters.

After the shooting of protesters in Lekki, Lagos by military personnel, hoodlums hijacked the protests. The hijack led to killing of more officers and attack on public and private properties.

The hoodlums also looted various warehouses across the country including the Osun state while in search of COVID-19 food palliatives.

To cushion the effect, the Osun government ordered curfew and asked that looters be arrested. So far, over 60 persons have been arrested and remanded in Ilesha correctional prison.

The state police command spokesperson, Mrs Opolola did not state the reason why the arrest of the two two WhatsApp administrators was not announced like previous ones. She did not also answer the question of when the duo will be arraigned.

The section 35 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution provides that the police should not detain any suspect for longer than 48 hours without a court order.

Several rights groups have also called on police against abuse of fundamental human rights.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/425062-police-detain-endsars-protests-whatsapp-group-administrators.html

The season for accountability is upon us.

May we never see the needless killings and destruction that hallmarked the recent protests.

Fahdiga:
If this vengeful government doesn't want to toe the path of peace then they shouldn't complain when another uprising starts and this time will be more devastating than the last one

At the end it is the hungry masses that suffer the destroyed infrastructure, burnt transport buses, high food prices & movement restrictions and not the officials insulated from the chaos in their air-conditioned mansions.

We ought to have learnt a thing or two.

It is profitable to be wise.

If this vengeful government doesn't want to toe the path of peace then they shouldn't complain when another uprising starts and this time will be more devastating than the last one

Na una want change na the change don come una dey complain

lalasticlala, please, which sane country can i get a masters degree with 5 million naira or less, i don't want my yet to be born children to experience this hell called Nigeria.

Mgbadike80:
lalasticlala, please, which sane country can i get a masters degree with 5 million naira or less, i don't want my yet to be born children to experience this hell called Nigeria.

Go to Germany or Canada.

Fahdiga:
If this vengeful government doesn't want to toe the path of peace then they shouldn't complain when another uprising starts and this time will be more devastating than the last one

The next one, you will end up in police custody, or the morgue, be careful what you wish for.

Mgbadike80:
lalasticlala, please, which sane country can i get a masters degree with 5 million naira or less, i don't want my yet to be born children to experience this hell called Nigeria.

Why not consider The People’s Republic of Biafra?

HAccord:


Go to Germany or Canada.

Giving advice, why did you not go yourself to Hamburg, or Alberta? before anyone takes heed to what you are exclaiming, instead you are hurled up in a hamlet east of the Niger River, whining from dusk till dawn about President Buhari?

Islie:




A police spokesperson said those arrested played roles in the arson that followed the protests in October.






https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/425062-police-detain-endsars-protests-whatsapp-group-administrators.html


Lalasticlala

Polithiefcians and policemen will never learn. The second batch protest will consume them totally. I promise you people.

They keep on mixing hoodlums & protesters in their reports.

Nigeria is in a big problem, if our leaders don't want to be held accountable.

We will never forget Under buhari's watch what our rights was reduced to.

Things upside down in this country

You see this country their problem.. well someone should tell pastor Chris Onyakhilome to please reduce the calculated year to next year.

Ejo trumpet should just sound abeg

They drew them from one, they enter another one

Welcome development, all eyes on deck

They have secretly started infringing on right of the people
They forget that They Also sleep and pray to God to help them

Hmm well better bite what you can chew or better never bite at all

Foolish fantasize youth, they are busy hyping you with voters card for 2023 and many delusional mind are busy accepting

I pray for this pamper youths to have eyes forget 2023, and focus now, fight for restructure of this country, with that every region will hold his/her regional government responsible without tribalism blocking the way

zoogeria...a country where people are been arrested for demanding a better country,,It will be failure on my part raising my kids in an insanely hopeless corn tree,,God help una

I know the Nigerian government would target the heads of the protest...
Which kind of country do we leave in ?
Protest is now a crime under buhari.....

Let us just line up one by one and be going to the police station so they can arrest us

Let's see if they can arrest and keep 50million youths .

From freezing accounts of protesters to arresting Whatsapp group admins, soon they'll clamp down on people who made posts on social media. It seems the Lekki shooting was just the beginning of what the government have in store for the protesters.

Lol and nothing will happen... No more protest till 2024

It seems those cops are out there to revenge..
I see another deadly protest erupting soon

Please if you were given an Endsars shirt or cap during the protests, please do not wear it outside o. A crazy overzealous policeman can put the anger of his dead colleagues on you. Yes you have right but this is still Nigeria. Cultists kill and get away with it not to talk of armed law enforcement.

Hmm

precisely, I won't pity them, now they are powerful.

Fahdiga:
If this vengeful government doesn't want to toe the path of peace then they shouldn't complain when another uprising starts and this time will be more devastating than the last one

It seems the police and these wicked thieving politicians have not learnt their lessons.



They have not been able to handle ordinary ragtag bokoharam and here they are showing their folly by arresting innocent youths and freezing their accounts.


When the chips are down, I hope they can stand the heat.

Second wave of protest loading. This time, it's gonna be like tsunami. Pikin wey say em mama no go sleep, how em sef go sleep.


Smart people governed by mediocres and irresponsible dummies.

Hummmm, police nefa still hear o

This government is trying to fill its mouth beyond what it can chew. Buhari’s goverment is looking for more trouble. For now, I won’t say more than this, let them continue with the path.