Man "unlawfully arrested" by police while standing in front of his father's house and branded a cultist in newspapers speaks out

A young man has taken to the social media platform X to share his story after being unfairly labeled a cultist in multiple news outlets following his "unlawful" arrest.

Oluga Abiola, a recent Mathematics graduate from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, recounted an incident on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2023, where he found himself witnessing police officers arresting young men in his neighborhood while he stood in front of his father's house.

According to Abiola, despite simply engaging in a conversation with a friend on his phone, he was falsely accused by one officer of recording the raid and promptly arrested. Subsequently, he was taken to Ibarra Police Station in Ogun State, where he endured three days of detention without the chance for bail.

"To compound matters," Abiola expressed, "the Ogun Police Command's PPRO plastered my name across national newspapers."

He further lamented the lack of investigation by the police before branding him a suspected cultist and detailed the intimidation tactics employed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Ibarra division during his detention.

Clarifying that he has no affiliation with any cult group and is merely awaiting his NYSC deployment as a recent graduate, Abiola emphasized the necessity of shedding light on the misconduct of the Nigerian police force in Ogun state, urging the Inspector General of Police and the governor of Ogun State, @dabiodunMFR, to intervene.

"Addressing this issue is crucial," Abiola stressed, "to prevent further instances of police brutality. The DPO must be held accountable, and my family seeks assistance for legal representation to pursue justice."

He emphasized the importance of a public apology in national newspapers to restore his tarnished reputation.

Additionally, Abiola highlighted his encounter with numerous unjustly detained individuals during his time in custody, prompting widespread condemnation from Nigerians who accused the police of wrongful arrests and character defamation.