Reports on social media on Tuesday night suggested that the activist was allegedly picked up by the police in a yet-to-be-known location in Lagos.
In a distress message sent to our correspondent via WhatsApp on Tuesday night, Sanyaolu wrote, “I have been arrested (by the) police.” His lines subsequently became unreachable.
An X user @TimiBlaze also posted on X, “I just got informed that the leader of Take It Back Nigeria, Juwon Sanyaolu @AyowoleSanyaolu has just been arrested for planning #WeAreHungry protest. Nigeria is now in a full-blown dictatorship under the All Progressives Congress! Nothing would stop us! We are coming out tomorrow!”
When reached for a reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was unaware of such a report.
Hundeyin in a telephone conversation said, “I don’t have that information. I’m not aware of it at all.”
A source in the state police command, who pleaded anonymity because he was unauthorised to speak on the matter, said Juwon’s arrest may not be by the police.
The source explained, “It could be officials of the Department of State Services. It could also be police officers outside the state command. You know the police force is fragmented. So sometimes it can be hard to know which division carried out some activity.”
Sanyaolu serves as the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, one of the civil society organisations planning the protests across various states.
Earlier, the Lagos State Police Command cautioned against any disruption of law and order in the state, according to a statement by Hundeyin.
The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, assured residents of police presence on Wednesday to ensure safety and order during the planned protests.
The Department of State Services also disclosed that it had received intelligence about plans by certain individuals and groups to stage protests across the nation on Democracy Day.
The DSS emphasised that the protesters deliberately scheduled the demonstrations to coincide with democracy day celebrations.
In a Tuesday statement, the Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, emphasised that while the constitution guarantees the right to assembly, it should not be exploited to undermine national security.
Notices circulating on social media indicate that the mass protest is slated to commence on Wednesday in Lagos at 7 a.m.
