KOGI: A young Kogi State resident, Yusuf Folorunsho, has reportedly been arrested and secretly transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) on the direct orders of Governor Usman Ododo. His alleged crime? Criticizing the administration.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Folorunsho was initially apprehended in Ajaokuta and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lokoja.
His arrest was reportedly orchestrated through a petition filed by the Chairman of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, allegedly acting on behalf of the governor.
A senior police officer at SCID, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Folorunsho was accused of writing and speaking against the government. “His arrest was on the orders of Governor Ododo, the officer stated.
The governor claimed he criticized his administration, and the Ajaokuta Local Government Chairman was instructed to file a petition. The young man was subsequently detained at the State CID for several days.
However, dissatisfaction with the way the SCID was handling the case reportedly led Governor Ododo to take further action. According to sources,
the governor suspected that the SCID officials were being too lenient with the detainee. In response, he allegedly bypassed due process and ordered Folorunsho’s immediate transfer to the DSS.
“They felt that the State CID was ‘romancing’ the young man, so they transferred him to the DSS without informing his family, a source disclosed.
The circumstances surrounding Folorunsho’s arrest and secretive transfer have raised serious concerns among human rights advocates, who view it as a violation of fundamental freedoms.
Critics argue that Governor Ododo’s actions reflect an increasing crackdown on dissent and a disturbing trend of using security agencies to silence opposition voices.
As of now, neither the Kogi State Government nor the DSS has issued any official statement regarding Folorunsho’s detention or current status.
This is not the first time a vocal critic of the Kogi State government has faced such treatment. Last week, heavily armed security operatives arrested Comrade Usman Okai Austin, a political activist and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at his residence in Abuja.
Reports suggest that Okai’s arrest was also linked to his persistent criticism of the state government’s policies and governance.
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Following his detention, he was transferred from Abuja to Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, where he was arraigned before a Magistrate Court.
On Friday, the court ordered Okai’s remand at Kabba Correctional Centre for two weeks. Sources confirmed that when security operatives stormed his residence, they did not present an arrest warrant, raising further questions about the legality of the operation.
The continued suppression of dissenting voices in Kogi State has sparked outrage among civil rights organizations and opposition figures.
Many fear that the use of security agencies to stifle criticism sets a dangerous precedent for democracy and freedom of speech in the state.
With no clear response from the authorities, concerns continue to grow over the safety and well-being of those who dare to speak against the government.
