Nigerian activist, Abiodun Thomas, also known as Horlarmidey Africano, has gone into hiding, citing serious concerns for her safety after accusing the Force Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, of targeting her for harassment.
She claimed that Adejobi, in retaliation for her outspoken criticism of the Nigeria Police, falsely spread word that she was involved in criminal activity and instructed officers to locate and arrest her.
Speaking about her ordeal, Abiodun revealed that Adejobi had allegedly spread false claims that she was bullying Nigerians, including himself, on social media.
According to the activist, Adejobi’s allegations against her stem from her consistent stance against police brutality, particularly following her participation in the #EndSARS memorial protests on October 20, 2024, during which she was allegedly assaulted by police officers.
“I haven’t committed any crime. All I have done is to speak out against police violence. I was even brutalised during the #EndSARS memorial protest and had my money stolen while in police custody. My phone was also destroyed.”
Abiodun further claimed that Adejobi had gone as far as deploying operatives from the Intelligence Response Team, a special tactical squad within the Nigeria Police Force, to arrest her.
Despite these claims, Abiodun stressed that she had not received any formal invitation or notice from the police regarding any alleged crime.
“I have been told by several police officers to meet them at different locations, but I fear this could be a trap or an attempt to abduct me on Adejobi’s orders,” she said in an interview with SaharaReporters from her location in hiding.
The activist also recounted incidents of online bullying, with some individuals, including a police officer named Isijola Victor, allegedly threatening her.
According to Abiodun, Victor made disturbing comments, saying, “They haven’t beaten you up properly, and that’s why you’re still talking,” before calling her derogatory names.
When she threatened to expose his comments, Victor allegedly deleted them and locked his profile.
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