“He Was Arrested for Looking Like a Tout” – Deji Adeyanju Condemns Alleged Unlawful Detention of Trader in Anambra

 

Prominent Nigerian lawyer and outspoken human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has strongly criticized what he described as an unlawful arrest and detention of a Nigerian citizen, Ugochukwu Ukeje, by members of a government task force in Anambra State.

Adeyanju, known for consistently speaking up on issues of police brutality and human rights violations, took to social media on Monday, June 24, 2025, to share details about the alleged incident, which he claims amounts to a gross abuse of power and an infringement on the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens.

According to Adeyanju, the victim, Ugochukwu Ukeje, is a well-known trader at the Onitsha Main Market, one of the busiest and largest commercial hubs in Nigeria. Ukeje, along with four other individuals, was reportedly picked up by operatives of a task force established by the Anambra State Government.

The arrest allegedly occurred on Monday, June 24, with no formal charges laid against the victims at the time of the arrest.

“Information at my disposal says Ugochukwu Ukeje, a trader in Onitsha Main Market, was arrested alongside four others by men of the state task force,” Adeyanju stated in his post.

Arrested for 'Looking Like Touts'

What makes the incident more disturbing, according to Adeyanju, is the reason behind the arrest. He claimed that the arresting officers did not catch Ukeje or the other individuals engaging in any form of crime or disturbance. Instead, they were simply profiled based on their appearance and labeled as “touts.”

“The security agents had no other reason for the arrest other than that they looked like touts,” Adeyanju alleged.

This, he explained, was both shocking and unacceptable in a democratic society where rule of law and individual liberty are expected to be upheld. He emphasized that it is unconstitutional and highly oppressive to arrest any Nigerian simply based on appearance, dress, or perceived social class without a concrete reason or warrant.

Illegal Detention and Demand for Bail Money

Further shedding light on the ordeal, Adeyanju revealed that after their arrest, Ugochukwu Ukeje and the other victims were immediately taken into custody and held in a police cell. In a move that appeared to worsen the situation, the police reportedly confiscated Ukeje’s phone, effectively cutting him off from his family and legal representation.

Even more troubling, Adeyanju alleged that a neighbor who went to the police station in a bid to secure Ukeje’s release was asked to bring N200,000 as bail money — a clear violation of Nigeria’s police and legal procedures regarding bail, which is meant to be free under the law.

“A neighbor who visited the station to secure Ukeje's bail was asked to bring N200,000,” Adeyanju said, further calling attention to the corruption and extortion embedded in the system.

Violation of Constitutional Rights and Call for Justice

The human rights lawyer did not mince words as he condemned the situation in its entirety. He described it as an outright abuse of power and a violation of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Adeyanju called for immediate attention to the matter, urging the Anambra State Government and all relevant security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly. He also emphasized the need for urgent reforms in the operations of state-sponsored task forces, many of which, according to him, operate outside the boundaries of the law.

“No one deserves to be arrested simply because of how they look. Profiling people as touts without evidence is discriminatory, unlawful, and breeds the kind of injustice that has no place in a civil society,” Adeyanju said.

The Bigger Problem: Profiling and Extortion in Nigeria

This is not the first time cases of unlawful arrest, profiling, and police extortion have come to public attention in Nigeria. Over the years, thousands of Nigerians—especially young men—have spoken up about being arrested simply because of their hairstyle, clothes, or the gadgets they carry.

In some instances, the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was accused of similar acts, which sparked the historic #EndSARS protest in 2020. That movement, driven by young Nigerians, called for the end of police brutality and demanded justice for victims of extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, and unlawful detentions.

Despite the disbandment of SARS, many human rights observers, including Deji Adeyanju, argue that little has changed on the ground. New task forces and security formations continue to commit the same human rights violations in various parts of the country, including in states like Anambra.

Need for Legal Reform and Oversight

Legal experts say the actions of the Anambra task force, if verified, contravene multiple sections of the Nigerian Constitution, including:

• Section 35(1): which guarantees every Nigerian the right to personal liberty and outlines the circumstances under which a person may be lawfully arrested and detained.

• Section 36(5): which presumes a person innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

• Section 41(1): which protects the right to freedom of movement within Nigeria.

The demand for N200,000 bail money also contravenes the position of the Nigeria Police Force that bail is free, a stance reiterated in multiple public statements and campaigns.

Deji Adeyanju has now called on civil society organizations, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the general public to put pressure on the Anambra State authorities to address the growing concern over unchecked abuses by its task force.

Social Media Reacts

Adeyanju’s post, shared across various platforms, has generated widespread outrage among Nigerians online, with many condemning the growing culture of harassment and lawlessness by state actors.

Social media users echoed similar sentiments, with some recounting personal experiences of police extortion and random arrests in Anambra and other states.

One user wrote: “This is exactly what happened to my cousin in Awka last month. They arrested him for dressing ‘like a yahoo boy.’ It’s sad that this keeps happening.”

Another commented: “We cannot continue to have state task forces acting like thugs. This is not democracy.”

Conclusion: A Call for Accountability

The arrest and detention of Ugochukwu Ukeje, as reported by Deji Adeyanju, has once again spotlighted the deeply troubling issues of police misconduct, illegal detention, profiling, and extortion in Nigeria.

If truly arrested for “looking like a tout,” then this case presents a grave breach of the victim’s fundamental rights, and it underscores the need for urgent and systemic reforms in law enforcement across the country.

Nigerians are watching closely to see if the Anambra State Government will launch an investigation, hold the responsible officers accountable, and ensure that justice is served. Until then, voices like that of Deji Adeyanju remain critical in shedding light on the abuses that many Nigerians face on a daily basis.