Olamide Thomas, #EndSARS activist, faces criminal charges for insulting Seyi Tinubu in a viral video after a police protest. Nigerians criticize the administration for suppressing free speech, with hashtags like #FreeOlamideNow trending. The remand of Thomas highlights growing concerns over human rights and freedom of expression under President Tinubu’s government.
Olamide Thomas, a prominent #EndSARS activist, has been charged by the police in Abuja after a viral video showed her making derogatory remarks about Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, and police officials. The video, recorded during a protest against police brutality, featured Thomas expressing frustration after being tear-gassed at the rally. Authorities allege her comments violated the Cybercrimes Act and were intended to bully and harass Tinubu.
Thomas was arraigned on Friday and remanded in custody, potentially spending the holidays in prison as courts prepare for their Yuletide recess. Public reactions have been swift, with many Nigerians criticizing the government for suppressing dissent. Social media is flooded with comments condemning the charges, with hashtags like #FreeOlamideNow trending.
Critics accuse the Tinubu administration of escalating attacks on citizens for expressing opinions online, a stark contrast to promises of safeguarding democratic freedoms. Some Nigerians compared this to past governments, lamenting the perceived erosion of human rights. Others questioned the impartiality of the judiciary in cases involving the president's family.
The controversy deepens as another activist, Dele Farotimi, faces legal challenges, sparking debates about the growing clampdown on free speech. Many fear this trend sets a dangerous precedent for silencing dissent in Nigeria.
