The Socialist Workers League (SWL) vehemently condemns the abduction of Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide by officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) from her home in Bariga in the early hours of Friday, December 13, 2024.
Nurse Thomas who is a member of the SWL & Take It Back (TIB) movement, is a leader of rank-and-file workers whose courageous activism in defence of working people and the oppressed has brought her into direct confrontation with the NPF on numerous occasions, leading to threats and intimidation. She was forced into hiding a month ago when it came to light that she was a person of interest for the IGP for her criticism of police brutality and corruption.
The Nigerian Police Force, far from being an institution dedicated to preventing crime or protecting lives and property, is primarily an apparatus of state repression designed to maintain the status quo and suppress dissent. This is evident in the numerous cases of police brutality and arbitrary arrests that occur with impunity across the country. The abduction of Nurse Thomas is just the latest example of this trend, highlighting the NPF’s willingness to use violence and intimidation to silence those who dare to challenge the system.
As a matter of fact, the NPF was only able to track her down by arresting her uncle yesterday under false pretences purporting to settle a business dispute. He was kept in detention till 4:30 am this morning when he was coerced to lead them to her exact location at her home residence. In an earlier attempt to arrest her some weeks back, one of her colleagues as well had been arrested through the police infiltration of a WhatsApp group. But he did not know her residence. This gestapo-like approach of the police is unacceptable.
SWL demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Thomas. And we call on all organisations of working-class people to join in calling for her release forthwith. An injury to one is an injury to all.
Kunle Ajayi
National Chairperson
Amara Nwosu
National Secretary
(press statement issued on 13 December 2024)
