Outrage as DSS Detains Activist Kola Edokpayi Over Pro-Traoré Solidarity Rally

In a move that has sparked nationwide and international condemnation, officials from Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) have detained Marxist activist and leader of the Talakawa Parliament, Comrade Kola Edokpayi, in Benin City, Edo State. The arrest, which occurred on Saturday, May 3, 2025, is reportedly linked to a proposed Pan-African solidarity rally in support of Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

The rally, according to organizers, was designed to align with broader continental efforts to express unity against perceived French neo-colonial interference in West Africa. Similar events were reportedly being planned in other African nations, including Ghana and South Africa. However, the Nigerian authorities viewed the move with suspicion, prompting a swift crackdown that has ignited backlash from civil society and human rights advocates across Africa.

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Detention Sparks National Debate on Free Expression

According to sources close to the activist, Edokpayi had made prior arrangements for the peaceful rally before being contacted by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, who allegedly advised him to cancel the protest. In response, Edokpayi reportedly instructed his associates to halt the rally plans. Despite this compliance, DSS operatives, alongside police officers, raided his office, forcibly entered the premises, and detained six individuals. While four were released shortly after, Edokpayi and one associate remain in custody.

A trusted confidant of the activist, speaking to SaharaReporters, confirmed, “He had already complied with the police request. It is shocking that after calling off the event, the DSS still went ahead with the arrest. This is a clear sign that they are targeting him for his ideology and popularity among the grassroots.”

In response to the arrest, the Edo State chapter of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement issued a damning statement, calling for Edokpayi’s immediate and unconditional release. The movement criticized what it described as a disturbing trend of using security forces to muzzle dissent and criminalize free speech.

“Comrade Edokpayi was arrested for simply aligning with a Pan-African cause. This is political persecution, plain and simple. Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive while activists are targeted for their ideological stance,” said TIB’s Edo Coordinator, Comrade Hafiz Lawal.

Lawal stressed that the activist had committed no crime, referencing Nigeria’s constitutional provisions that protect freedom of thought, association, and peaceful assembly. “Sections 38, 39, and 40 of the 1999 Constitution are very clear. This arrest is not just legally indefensible—it is morally reprehensible.”

The Talakawa Parliament, a grassroots political and social justice platform founded by Edokpayi, has for years campaigned against elite oppression, corruption, and economic inequality. His recent alignment with Captain Ibrahim Traoré—who is seen by many Pan-Africanists as a symbol of resistance against Western influence—appears to have placed him on the radar of Nigerian security agencies.

One prominent Pan-African activist condemned the arrest as a betrayal of African solidarity. “Arresting Kola Edokpayi for supporting Ibrahim Traoré is an attack on Pan-Africanism itself. It reminds us of the fate of Muammar Gaddafi, a genuine Pan-Africanist who was betrayed by fellow Africans under Western pressure,” the activist said. “If African leaders continue to suppress those who dare to dream of a liberated continent, we are doomed to repeat history.”

Civil society groups from across the continent have echoed these sentiments. Legal advocacy organizations and pro-democracy campaigners argue that the arrest undermines Nigeria’s standing as a democratic nation and sets a dangerous precedent for civic activism. Some have hinted at possible legal action against the DSS for violating Edokpayi’s constitutional rights.

Public pressure is mounting as calls for his release gain momentum. Social media has erupted with the hashtags #FreeKolaEdokpayi and #StandWithTraoré, drawing attention to the perceived overreach of state power. Pan-African organizations have pledged to organize peaceful vigils and press conferences across major African cities to demand the activist’s freedom.

Meanwhile, the DSS has yet to release an official statement regarding the reasons for Edokpayi’s arrest or the specific charges—if any—being considered. Legal analysts say the absence of transparency only fuels concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the increasing use of state power to target ideological opponents.

As the story continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: the arrest of Kola Edokpayi has ignited a larger conversation about freedom, Pan-African unity, and the limits of political tolerance in Nigeria. Whether the government will bow to public pressure or dig in its heels remains to be seen, but activists are already preparing for a prolonged legal and civic battle to secure his release and defend the broader rights of expression and association in the country.