Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of activist Femi Adeyeye and other protesters who the Lagos State Police Command arrested during a protest against the fee hike at the University of Lagos.

This demand comes after reports that police officers from the Lagos State Command fired shots at UNILAG students and members of the National Association of Nigerian Students who were protesting against the increase in fees imposed by the school authorities.

NANS had previously informed the police of their plans to conduct a peaceful protest on September 6, 2023, at the University of Lagos. 

They warned the Department of State Services not to obstruct students from exercising their universal right to protest.

However, it was later discovered that the police disrupted the protest, firing shots at the protesters and detaining some students. 

The law enforcement officers also arrested activists Femi Adeyeye, Philip Olatinwo, and two other demonstrators.

Sowore expressed his opinion on the matter on social media, stating, “I read somewhere that the @PoliceNG claimed that @activistfemi was arrested because @UnilagNigeria authorities claimed that @activistfemi is/was no longer a student of the University; this argument is the most idiotic I’ve heard in a while.”

He continued, “I think the University of Lagos didn’t understand that the University is a public institution, run with the taxes of the Nigerian people, and as such can’t be secluded from public interest, including protests. The @PoliceNG must release @activistfemi unconditionally and understand that its ground belongs to the Nigerian people. #FeesMustFall #RevolutionNow.”

I read somewhere that the @PoliceNG claimed that @activistfemiwas arrested because @UnilagNigeria authorities claimed that @activistfemi is/was no longer a student of the University, this tad argument is this most idiotic I’ve heard in a while. I think the University of Lagos… pic.twitter.com/vJUY6gl7Q3

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) September 6, 2023