Makoko youth leader regains freedom after four days of illegal detention by Police

Stanley Ihedigbo

A Makoko youth leader arrested for protesting the demolition of homes in the waterfront community has been released after four days in police custody, following intense legal intervention and mounting pressure from activists and civil society groups.

At exactly 7:00pm on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Oluwatobi Aide, a Makoko-based youth leader, regained his freedom after spending four days in what activists have described as illegal and unjustified detention by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

Mr. Aide was arrested on Sunday for peacefully protesting the ongoing illegal demolition of homes belonging to poor and vulnerable residents of Makoko, allegedly carried out by the Lagos State Government in the interest of property developers and privileged elites.

His arrest and detention triggered widespread condemnation from human rights groups, labour activists, and civil society organisations.

Earlier on Wednesday, at about 11:00am, Mr. Aide was taken to the Mobile Court in Oshodi for arraignment on a trumped-up charge of “conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.”

However, around 1:00pm, while waiting for court proceedings to commence, the Nigerian Police Force abruptly abandoned the arraignment and withdrew the case.

This development followed the timely intervention of renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Comrade Femi Falana, who reportedly contacted police authorities to caution against further violations of Mr. Aide’s constitutional rights and to warn of legal consequences should the harassment persist.

Following the aborted arraignment, Mr. Aide was taken back to the RRS office in Alausa, Ikeja, where he was eventually granted administrative bail later in the day.

However, the process of securing his release was fraught with deliberate delays and oppressive bail conditions, including an initial demand by the police for a guarantor who must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14—a requirement widely criticised as arbitrary and exclusionary.

After hours of tense negotiations and sustained pressure, the police were compelled to drop the unreasonable conditions and accepted Comrade Moshood Oshunfurewa, a leading member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and Assistant General Secretary of the Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), alongside Comrade Onabule Mayowa, also of the DSM, as sureties for Mr. Aide.

The successful outcome of this case was made possible through collective resistance and solidarity. Special appreciation is extended to Comrade Femi Falana, SAN, for his swift and principled intervention.

Profound gratitude also goes to Mr. Joseph Opute Esq., Mr. Dapo Ebiesuwa Esq., Mr. Taiwo Olawale Esq., and Mr. Joshua Esq. of Inibehe Effiong Chambers for their tireless legal support.

The role played by the wider activist community in amplifying calls for Mr. Aide’s release cannot be overstated.

Many stood ready to appear in court as sureties, while others sustained public pressure through advocacy and media engagement.

Special thanks are due to Betty Abah of CEEHOPE, as well as HOMEF and CAPPA, for their media interventions and material support that helped keep the spotlight on this case.

We also acknowledge the efforts of Comrades Duroorike and Ireti, and particularly Comrade Onabule Mayowa, who remained steadfast throughout the ordeal—engaging police authorities, coordinating legal responses, and providing moral support to Mr. Aide during his detention.

This victory underscores the power of collective action and reinforces the urgent need to resist the criminalisation of peaceful protest and the continued assault on the rights of poor and working-class communities.