By Adesina Soyooye
For planning a rally in support of Captain Ibrahim Traore, the Military Leader of Burkina Faso, an Edo State based Marxist activist, Kola Edokpayi has been arrested, allegedly, by the Department of State Services, DSS. He was arrested alongside a couple of others.
It is not known why Edokpayi, acclaimed Leader of Talakawa Parliament, was arrested over the planned solidarity rally, or why the rally was even planned. But in recent weeks, Traore, the Revolutionary Leader of Burkina Faso, has attracted more than a passing interest in Nigeria, especially, among youths. The fear in not a few places is that he is suddenly becoming a poster boy of leadership in Nigeria. Anything and everything he does or says is being celebrated in Nigeria’s Social Media circles, especially.
Given his radicalism, and the manner he rose to power – through a coup d’etat which overthrew a democratically elected Government, his role in the exit of two other West African Countries – Mali and Niger – from the West Africa’s Regional body, Economic Community of West African Countries, ECOWAS, and his stark antagonism towards France, Burkina Faso’s erstwhile Colonial Masters, his popularity in Nigeria, especially, amongst youths, not a few people are uncomfortable that he is fast becoming a poster boy in Nigeria.
Edokpayi and colleagues did not say exactly why they planned to stage the proposed Pan-African solidarity rally for Traore, but he was picked up, allegedly, by the DSS on May 3, 2025, in Benin, Edo State.
His arrest, however, has triggered anger among rights groups, civil society actors, and pan-Africanists.
They have described it “as a blatant act of political repression and an assault on fundamental rights.”
According to SaharaReporters which quoted a source close to Edokpayi, he was arrested just when he decided to call off the rally after an audience with the Edo State Commissioner of Police.
Said the report:
“He ( Edokpayi) made arrangements for a solidarity rally. The Commissioner of Police called him a day before the rally and held a meeting with him to call it off. He complied and dispatched people to cancel the protest. But DSS and police operatives later stormed his office, broke in, and arrested about six people. Four were released, but they detained him and one other member.”
According to the organisers, the rally, continental in nature, was aimed at mobilising support for Captain Traore’s strong and defiant stand against “French neo colonial influence in West Africa.”
The rally was also planned to hold in other African Countries like Ghana and South Africa.
In a statement in condemnation of Edokpayi’s arrest, the Edo State chapter of the Take It Back Movement (TIB) demanded his immediate release.
The statement reads in part:
“Comrade Edokpayi was arrested for expressing solidarity with the government of Burkina Faso led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. This blatant act of political repression is not only unlawful but a direct attack on the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens.
“He has consistently mobilised the masses under the platform of the Talakawa Parliament, a grassroots movement that champions the rights of ordinary Nigerians against elite exploitation.
“The arrest is legally indefensible and morally reprehensible. Nigerian Security Agencies are weaponising the State against dissenting voices.”
The statement signed by Hafiz Lawal, the Edo State Coordinator of TIB also reminded that:
“Freedom of thought, expression, and association are guaranteed under Sections 38, 39, and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. His show of support for Captain Ibrahim Traoré does not in any way justify his arrest.”
Another trending statement online, put out by another pan-Africanist reads: “Arresting Marxist Kola Edokpayi for a proposed solidarity walk in support of Ibrahim Traoré is totally uncalled for. Pan-Africanism shouldn’t be killed; it’s supposed to be encouraged by all African countries and leaders. I remember Gaddafi, a true Pan-Africanist, who was betrayed by fellow Africans used by Western powers. Kola has done nothing wrong for standing for Africa. He must be released.”
Neither the DSS which, allegedly, carried out the arrest, nor the Edo State Police Command, has issued any statement on Edokpayi’s arrest.
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