The President of the Kogi State Youth Development Association, Comr. Apeh Kelvin, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of rights activist Tony, who was reportedly brutalized and detained by authorities in Lokoja.
In a statement on Monday, Comr. Apeh said he was joining “every well-meaning youth in Kogi State” to demand Tony’s freedom after the activist was allegedly attacked by thugs linked to the Ankpa Local Government Chairman and later taken to the State CID in Lokoja.
According to him, “Tony’s only ‘offense’ was exercising his fundamental right to peaceful protest.”
He said the activist “stood as a vocal advocate against the systemic social and infrastructural neglect facing the people of Ankpa, specifically calling for the rehabilitation of roads, improved welfare, and an immediate end to illegal mining activities within the Local Government Area.”
Comr. Apeh condemned the reported use of force against the activist, stating that advocacy should be met with dialogue, not violence.
“A reasonable government would know, advocacy for good governance and environmental protection should be met with administrative engagement, not violence and incarceration,” he said.
Describing the incident as a threat to democracy, he added: “The abduction, physical brutality, and unlawful detention of an activist on the reported orders of a public official is a grave violation of democratic principles. This incident represents an unacceptable attempt to silence dissent through intimidation.”
“I strongly condemn these actions and join the collective call for Tony’s immediate and unconditional freedom,” he stated.
The youth leader also called for accountability at the local government level.
“Furthermore, any public official, against the welfare of his people, does not qualify to occupy any public office,” he said.
“On that note, I demand the immediate resignation of the Ankpa Local Government Chairman to ensure accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights in Ankpa and Kogi state in General. Enough is Enough.”