The civil society community in Benin City, the Edo State capital, staged a street protest on Monday demanding the immediate release of Mr. Kola Edokpayi from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The protesters, carrying banners and placards with inscriptions such as “Free Comrade Kola Now”, marched through major streets of Benin City, chanting solidarity songs.
Mr. Edokpayi was reportedly arrested from his office last week after announcing plans to stage a protest in solidarity with Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military president of Burkina Faso.
Sources disclosed that prior to his arrest, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika, had met with Edokpayi and his team, following which the planned protest was called off.
The protesters insist that Edokpayi should be released unconditionally, as he has not committed any known offense.
