Security operatives led by the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday cordoned the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (Glory Dome) at Lugbe, Abuja.
Dozens of policemen and other plain-clothed state operatives have reportedly taken this step to ward off members of the #Revolutionnow movement who are protesting the arrest of some youths wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Those arrested and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) are Emmanuel Larry, Henry Nwodo, Samuel Gabriel, Ben Manasseh and Anene Udoka.
According to The Guardian, policemen were sighted in the area around the church, while patrol vehicles numbering about four were also parked in strategic locations.
Recall that human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, had threatened another mass protest if the five people arrested for wearing ‘Buhari Must Go’ T-shirts to the church last Sunday are not released within seven days.
The group at a press conference in Abuja stated that “the arrest and continued detention of these courageous young people have no basis in law and are a contravention of their fundamental human rights to freedom of expression, assembly and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 39, 40, and 41 respectively.”
We call on the lawless entity called the DSS to immediately and permanently unconditionally release Emmanuel Larry, Henry Nwodo, Samuel Gabriel, Ben Manasseh and Anene Udoka, as protest remains lawful and democratically permitted in Nigeria,” one of the conveners, Dare Ademola, said.
“We are going to mobilise to storm the church in large numbers to demand the freedom of these activists.”
In an earlier report, the five youths arrested by the DSS had sued the secret police and the Senior Pastor of the church, Paul Enenche.
Joining the first and fourth respondents – the DSS and Enenche – in the suits are the DSS Director-General, Yusuf Bichi; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) as second and third respondents respectively.
In separate suits, the applicants are seeking an order of the court restraining the DSS and other respondents in the suits from violating their fundamental right to freedom of religion, right to freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed under sections 35, 38, 39 and 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The five applicants want the court to protect their right to freedom from discrimination and right to personal liberty guaranteed under Articles 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP. A9), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The five #BuhariMustGo youths also want their immediate and unconditional release from the custody of the DSS.
