LAGOS, Nigeria — Concerns have mounted over the reported arrest of Rilwan Olawale, a supporter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and a mobiliser for Peter Obi.
Some men who identified themselves as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly took him away from his Lagos residence in the early hours of Sunday.
The incident has triggered demands for information about Olawale’s whereabouts.
Supporters, using the hashtag #FreeRilwanNow, are calling on the security agency to clarify whether he is in custody and explain the circumstances surrounding his reported disappearance.
The allegation was amplified by social media commentator NEFERTITI, known on X as @firstladyship.
NEFERTITI said Olawale was taken at approximately 1 a.m. on October 25 and had not been heard from since.
However, the circumstances of the reported operation remain unclear.
This Dawn News has not independently established the identities of the men involved.
It has not also confirmed that the DSS carried out the operation or found evidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally ordered Olawale’s arrest.
Olawale: NEFERTITI Demands Answers From DSS
In a post drawing attention to the incident, NEFERTITI described Olawale as an NDC mobiliser whose political activities included campaigning for Obi and displaying the party’s flag in Lagos.
She questioned why a citizen should allegedly be targeted for supporting an opposition candidate and called on the DSS and the Federal Government to disclose his whereabouts.
“His only ‘offense’ was campaigning for Mr. Peter Obi in Lagos State and waving the NDC flag,” she wrote.
She further alleged that the incident reflected an attempt to intimidate opposition supporters.
She argued that Nigerians should be free to support political candidates of their choice.
NEFERTITI called for Olawale’s immediate release and reunion with his family.
Her assertions about the motive for the alleged operation have not been independently established.
NDC Governorship Candidate Confirms Receiving Reports
The reported incident has also drawn attention from Funso Doherty, the NDC’s governorship candidate in Lagos State.
According to The Whistler, Doherty said he received reports on Sunday surrounding Olawale, a strong NDC supporter associated with the Obidient Movement.
He said Olawale had allegedly been picked up by armed men who identified themselves as DSS operatives.
Doherty said the circumstances remained unclear and that there was no official confirmation of Olawale’s exact whereabouts.
He disclosed that he was in contact with Olawale’s family and legal counsel, who were working to establish the facts and secure access to him.
The NDC candidate urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation while efforts to establish what happened continued.
His account adds to the calls for clarification.
It does not, however, independently confirm the identity of those who took Olawale away or the reason for the operation.
Obidient Movement Demands Disclosure of the Whereabouts of Olawale
The Obidient Movement has also called on the authorities to disclose Olawale’s whereabouts, explain the legal basis for any detention and ensure that his rights are protected.
In a statement, the movement’s global coordinator, Dr Moses Paul, called for Olawale’s release if there was no lawful basis for holding him.
The group maintained that political opposition and criticism of the government should not, by themselves, be grounds for arrest or detention.
It also called on the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force to establish the facts and provide clarity about Olawale’s situation.
The demands have intensified the online campaign under #FreeRilwanNow.
Supporters are seeking confirmation that Olawale is safe and information about any possible legal proceedings.
Political Campaigning at the Centre of Public Concern
Olawale is described by supporters as a political mobiliser for the NDC and an advocate of Obi’s anticipated 2027 presidential bid.
Reports and social media posts have linked his public activities to street campaigning, displaying NDC branding and mobilising support for the opposition platform.
Some supporters have suggested that his political activities may be connected to the reported incident.
Meanwhile, no evidence has been made public establishing that his support for Obi or the NDC was the reason for the alleged operation.
The distinction is important as political parties and movements organise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Questions about freedom of expression, political association and the conduct of security agencies are likely to attract heightened scrutiny.
What Does the DSS Say About Olawale?
As of the latest reports reviewed for this story, no public statement from the DSS confirming Olawale’s arrest.
The security outfit has not also identified the detention facility or explained the circumstances of the reported incident.
The absence of a public confirmation does not, by itself, establish whether Olawale is in custody or whether the agency was involved.
The DSS and other relevant authorities would need to clarify:
- whether Olawale was arrested,
- where he is being held if detained, and,
- whether any charges or legal grounds exist for his detention.
The agency’s official website publishes statements and clarifications concerning arrests and detentions, but the reports reviewed did not contain a specific confirmation concerning Olawale.
Tinubu’s Government Faces Calls for Transparency
In the meantime, the incident has prompted accusations against the Tinubu administration from opposition supporters.
Available evidence, however, does not establish that the President personally directed the reported operation or that the alleged action was motivated by Olawale’s political allegiance.
Nevertheless, the reported disappearance has raised questions that the authorities can address through a clear account of what happened.
If Olawale is in official custody, disclosure of his location, the legal basis for his detention and access to his family and legal counsel would help establish the facts.
If the DSS was not involved, an official clarification would also help resolve the allegations.
For now, the central questions remain unanswered: Where is Rilwan Olawale, who took him away, and what is the legal basis for the reported action?
This Dawn News will update this report if the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, Olawale’s family or his legal representatives provide verifiable new information.
