Adeyanju calls for immediate release of activists arrested during Lagos demolition protest

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has condemned the arrest of protesters, including Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, during a demonstration in Lagos over demolition activities.

Adeyanju described the arrests as an unjust targeting of the poor, warning against what he called the criminalisation of poverty.

He said advocating for the rights of the downtrodden and oppressed should not be treated as a crime, stressing that no individual deserves punishment for standing up for justice and human dignity.

According to him, activism remains a vital pillar of any democratic society, adding that citizens must be free to speak out against injustice and demand accountability without fear of intimidation, violence or detention.

Adeyanju called on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Comrade Soweto and other detained activists, urging the government to end the practice of punishing people for peacefully demanding their rights.