On July 17, 2025, a musician and self-styled social critic, Saheed Osama, popularly called Shamsodium, was arrested and detained by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly making defamatory statements about Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba, the widow of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, in a TikTok video post suggesting that she was responsible for his death.
According to reports, Osama was lured to a fake photoshoot location in Lagos on Thursday before being apprehended and may have been transferred to police custody in Abuja.
Reports also suggest that Osama’s arrest may be linked to his online activism and criticism of authorities through his TikTok posts. His disappearance since last Thursday had initially raised concerns among associates before it was confirmed that he was in police custody.
In a statement signed by its organising committee members, Hassan Taiwo and Adegboyega Adeniji, the Rights Advocacy Group, #EndBadGovernance, condemned the incident, stressing that public criticism is not a crime but an essential part of democracy. The Group also accused the Nigeria Police Force of being used as a tool to harass individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The Group further cautioned against the misuse of police officers for arbitrary arrests, warning that such practices could erode public trust in security agencies. It urged the authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that citizens’ constitutional rights to free speech and expression are fully protected.
The incident has sparked growing debate over the shrinking space for free speech in Nigeria, with many observers urging the government to prioritise democratic values and protect citizens’ rights to express dissenting opinions without fear of harassment or unlawful arrest.
