By: Adeosun Ewatomi
A peculiar case of alleged proxy arrest and detention has stirred concern in Lagos after a man reported missing was found held by law enforcement under contentious circumstances.
The story, shared by activist Comrade Wale Balogun, sheds light on what he describes as a troubling sequence of police actions linked to alleged political targeting.
According to Balogun, his cousin, Mr. Bamidele Ayodeji Adeosun, was declared missing on Thursday, July 10th, 2025. Two days later, on Saturday, July 12th, Adeosun’s wife raised the alarm, prompting the family to file a missing person report at Pedro Police Station in Shomolu.
Following this, multiple police stations were visited—including Akinpelu, Shogunle, and Makinde—in a determined bid to trace the missing man.
On Sunday, July 13th, phone tracking reportedly led the family to a building in Mafoluku, leading the Pedro Police to refer the case to other stations.
Still, no concrete leads emerged. On Monday, July 14th, the phone signal placed Adeosun at LASUTH Ikeja, yet no trace was found in its emergency wards or morgue. The search was later extended to IDH Yaba, with similar results.
Unexpectedly, a delegation from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS JCC) stumbled upon Adeosun at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja.
He was reportedly detained by the Commissioner of Police’s Tactical Team.
According to Balogun, Adeosun had been arrested “in proxy” due to his prior communication with him on the 9th and 10th of July—days before his disappearance.
Balogun claims that intelligence reports hinted at a planned arrest targeting him linked to a cyberbullying petition allegedly filed by a political figure. He expressed concern that the arrest of his cousin was a veiled move against him.
After eight days in detention, Bamidele Adeosun was released on Thursday, July 17th, under conditions described by Balogun as coercive.
Adeosun was allegedly threatened not to contact or inform Balogun about the arrest and was instructed to return to the police headquarters the following day.
Balogun, who claims to have honoured past police invitations, expressed shock at the CP’s alleged efforts to detain him without formal notification.
He condemned what he sees as a disturbing misuse of police authority and a threat to civic freedoms.
“I was surprised I could be witch-hunted to the extent of my cousin being arrested and detained in proxy,” Balogun stated.
The case, now gaining attention in
activist circles, is raising questions about police procedures, political influence, and citizen rights.
Balogun urges comrades and civic bodies to demand transparency and accountability from law enforcement.When the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, was contacted to confirm the case and find out if truly Adeosun was arrested on proxy and held incommunicado for days, he promised to get revert, but did not. When he was called a day later, he did not pick his calls.