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Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the alleged detention of a cleric, Pastor Kayode Olawoye, by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ogun State.
In a Tuesday statement shared on Facebook, the rights group demanded the immediate release of the cleric.
Olawoye, a fierce critic of the state of roads in Ogun state, was reportedly invited on Monday to the DSS office in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Monday’s invitation was said to be the third extended to him by the secret police, which he always honoured.
Online news platform, Sahara Reporters reported that the pastor was not allowed to leave the DSS facility and has since been placed under detention.
In its statement, Amnesty said, “Nigerian authorities must end the incessant intimidation and harassment of Pastor Kayode Olawoye — a cleric widely known for advocating for better road infrastructure in Ogun State”.
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The rights group argued that subjecting such a “peaceful advocate for good governance to bizarre intimidation by the Department Of State Services (DSS) is unlawful”.
According to Amnesty, Olawoye’s advocacy is “justified given the shocking and deplorable state of roads in Ogun — his state”.
It emphasised that “criticising Gov. Dapo Abiodun is not crime”.
The group stated, “The authorities have an obligation to uphold and protect fundamental human rights.
“Instead of investing in desperate attempts to punish activists, the government should be listening to them and doing more to addressing people’s concerns.”
