By Femi Akande
Mustafa Aderemi Akeem
LAGOS — A series of internal security assessments and leaked intelligence documents have revealed growing concerns over the safety of Mustafa Aderemi Akeem, a prominent pro-democracy activist and veteran of Nigeria’s political reform movement.
The documents, reviewed by Newsconnect, suggest that Akeem has been the subject of repeated threats, targeted violence, and politically motivated harassment in recent months, allegedly stemming from his outspoken activism against corruption and electoral malpractice.
According to classified briefings circulated among law enforcement and security agencies, Akeem was reportedly abducted on August 1, 2024, by men dressed in police uniforms following his participation in a protest in Lagos. The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernment, was part of ongoing demonstrations calling for systemic reform and accountability.
Intelligence sources say Akeem was detained for five days in a concealed location, where he was allegedly subjected to physical assault and interrogation. His captors were reportedly focused on extracting information about the financing of the #EndSARS movement and identifying other activists. One confidential memo claims that his eventual release was prompted by mounting international pressure.
The report includes a chilling warning allegedly delivered by his abductors before his release: “Next time, we’ll bury you.”
Akeem, who served as a key mobilizer for the late Senator Buruji Kashamu’s Omo Ilu Foundation in Ogun State, has long been known for his grassroots engagement and vocal stance against election rigging and political corruption. His activism, sources say, has placed him on an unofficial watchlist reportedly maintained by state security agencies and political operatives.
Security analysts familiar with the situation warn that the threats against Akeem reflect a broader pattern of hostility toward political dissidents. “There’s a systemic effort to silence activists critical of the government,” said one intelligence contact. “What we are seeing in Akeem’s case is not isolated.”
Efforts to obtain official responses from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and Ministry of Interior were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
This is a developing story.
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