Obidient Movement Condemns Arrest of Akwa Ibom Coordinators - The Guardian Nigeria News

The Obidient Movement has condemned the arrest of its Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Dr Ben Smith, and the State Coordinator of the OK Movement, Elijah Noah, during a peaceful march in the state.

The movement demanded their immediate and unconditional release, accusing the Nigeria Police of using intimidation and arrests to suppress opposition voices.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Media and Communications Directorate, Onyeka Dike said other members of the movement were also arrested during the march.

The group alleged that the protesters were arrested while exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and political expression.

It described the police action as “a dangerous assault on democracy” and accused the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the All Progressives Congress of being responsible for what it called an unnecessary provocation.

The Obidient Movement said it was particularly concerned that a peaceful political march had attracted what it described as a heavy-handed police response.

“If citizens can no longer assemble peacefully, express their grievances or demonstrate their political convictions without fear of arrest, then our democracy has been officially suspended,” the statement said.

The movement also accused the police of allowing itself to be used for political persecution, a claim the police and APC would need to address.

It demanded an immediate end to what it described as intimidation and harassment of its members and other opposition groups.

The group warned that continued arrests and alleged suppression could trigger wider protests across the country.

“If the authorities continue to ignore our demands and use the police to intimidate peaceful citizens, we will have no choice but to mobilise our members and supporters for wider protests around the country,” it said.

The movement, however, said its commitment remained peaceful, insisting that Nigerians had a constitutional right to protest injustice and demand accountability from those in power.

It urged the authorities to release the detained coordinators and other members and prevent further escalation.

The statement warned that continued actions against peaceful protesters could deepen public anger and create tensions that, according to the group, could have been avoided.

The Obidient Movement concluded by demanding an immediate end to what it called the “needless provocation,” declaring: “A New Nigeria is Possible. Nigeria must be OK.”