•#FreeAyomide Protest called off

The Anti-Cult Alliance Movement (ACAM) has announced the unconditional release of Ayomide, a Somolu youth detained at Onipanu Divisional Police Headquarters, following a 24-hour ultimatum that triggered nationwide outrage and threats of mass protest over alleged police blackmail.

In two press statements issued Wednesday, ACAM declared “Victory for Justice” after confirming that Ayomide, who sustained a head injury in an April 25 incident, was freed from police custody this morning.

“This victory belongs to YOU,” ACAM National Coordinator Akin Okunowo, a.k.a. Akin Aluta, told supporters worldwide. “Your voices rose like the speed of light. Your solidarity forced the doors of injustice open. The protest planned for tomorrow is no longer necessary.”

From Hostage Ultimatum To Freedom

The release came minutes after ACAM’s 8:00 AM statement accused the DPO, Onipanu Division, of turning his station into a “blackmail office” by detaining Ayomide to force the group to publish a rejoinder praising him.

According to ACAM, victims reported that on April 28, the DPO arrested suspects Emmanuel and Godwin but later declared them “not cultists,” ruled the case “mere two fighting,” and said there was “no single cultist in the whole of Shomolu.” He then allegedly kept Ayomide and one suspect in detention, telling the victims he would only release Ayomide if ACAM wrote that he “did his job well” and that his regular patrols had rid Shomolu of cultists because “the CP is now on the DPO’s neck.”

The victims, described as “crying and terrified,” told ACAM that community leaders had intervened and that the DPO had “done wonderfully well.” One husband was reportedly heard threatening to evict his wife if she didn’t convince ACAM to comply with the DPO’s so Ayomide could be freed.

“You don’t auction freedom for PR,” ACAM fired back. “Since when do victims need an NGO press release to bail them from a police cell?”

‘State-Sponsored Kidnapping’

ACAM labelled the DPO’s actions “state-sponsored kidnapping,” “obstruction of justice,” and “terrorism in uniform,” saying the incident exposed a dangerous national pattern.

“Today it is Ayomide in unlawful detention at Onipanu Police Station. Tomorrow, it could be your son in Kano. Your daughter in Port Harcourt,” the group warned. “When DPOs learn they can jail victims to gag activists, every Nigerian is in danger.”

The group had issued six non-negotiable demands to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, including Ayomide’s release before sunset April 30, the removal and prosecution of the Onipanu DPO, and a public statement that “we don’t trade victims for praise.” It threatened to launch Phase 1 of #OccupyAllPoliceStations from May 1 if the demands were not met.

CP Commended, DPO Condemned

While condemning the DPO, ACAM commended the Lagos CP for his “swift response” and “community outreach” against cultism, saying citizens had sent a video of his anti-cultism campaigns. “You are not the problem,” ACAM told the CP. “DPO Onipanu is the problem.”

The group said the CP’s “quick intervention” showed he “does not joke with cultism” but warned that a “bad DPO” could damage his reputation.

The Original Incident

The crisis began April 25 when victims reported that Emmanuel and Godwin allegedly assaulted a family in Somolu after a girl said “Excuse me” to one of them. The victims said they were dragged by the hair, beaten, and one cousin, Ayomide, was struck on the head and bled. The suspects allegedly banged on the family’s door at 3 AM after threatening “don’t sleep at home" and “call anybody you know. Nothing will happen. We are untouchable.”

Police initially issued a medical note and arrested the suspects on April 28. But ACAM said the DPO later reclassified the case as “affray” and detained Ayomide despite his injuries, which required a N200,000+ brain scan.

“Since when does ‘two fighting’ require a CT scan?” ACAM asked. “That is the language of terrorism, not of ‘two fighting.’”

Next Steps

With Ayomide now free, ACAM said it has directed donors to meet the family to settle medical bills. The group suspended fundraising pending confirmation of his treatment but vowed to monitor “the prosecution of his attackers, and the disciplinary action against officers who abused their powers.

“To the oppressors: We are watching. To the victims: You are not alone. To the world: Nigerians old and young will not be silenced anymore. Enough is enough!” Okunowo said.

ACAM maintained that “a bleeding head is not ‘mere two fighting’” and that “a DPO who bothers a victim’s freedom is not a police officer. He is a kidnapper in uniform.”

ACAM warned that though the protest is called off, “the war against cultism and police impunity is not over. But today, we won a battle.”