Activist, who has accused Tompolo and Tantita of abuses, says he does not know who the men were. Police yet to explain the arrest.
Niger Delta human rights campaigner Apostle Perela Ezekiel Osia, popularly known as Daniel Ezekiel, was reportedly arrested at his home in Life Camp, Abuja, on Friday, September 18, 2026. The arrest came about two weeks after lawyers for a businessman filed a petition with the police naming him over alleged online defamation.
Daniel told NOHR that a group of men came to his residence on Friday morning. One of them introduced himself as Jerry. Daniel said he could not independently identify the men but believed they might be police officers. He was taken to the Agwa Cement Police Station in Abuja, where he was reportedly held pending collection or transfer by Force Headquarters personnel. “I don’t know if they are police officers or not. I don’t trust them,” he reportedly said.
Daniel also raised the possibility that the men had criminal intentions. There is no independent evidence of this, and nothing suggests that an assassination attempt or a kidnapping took place.
NOHR can confirm that Ebilade Obiri & Associates, solicitors to Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh, popularly called KFT, wrote to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre on September 3, 2026. The petition seen by NOHR named Daniel and another person, Yemi Otuedon, also known as Otuedon Warri.
The lawyers allege that around August 24 the two published Facebook posts describing their client as a thief, killer, kidnapper, abductor and human rights violator. They call the posts false and malicious and say screenshots were attached. They also said their client was choosing legal redress over self-help. Reports say Daniel was arrested over allegations bordering on cyberstalking and spreading false information about KFT.
Backdrop of the Tompolo dispute
In recent months Daniel has publicly alleged unlawful detention, torture, forced labour, intimidation and other abuses involving Niger Delta figure Chief Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and people associated with them. He has also made allegations involving KFT and Tantita executive Tare Pondi. None of these claims has been established by a court or an independent investigation. Tompolo, Tantita and the others named are entitled to respond. Daniel has called for independent investigations and said he is willing to defend his claims through lawful proceedings.
There is no verified evidence that Tompolo ordered, authorised or took part in the arrest. Nothing shows that KFT’s petition was filed at his direction.
Attention has also turned to a social media post attributed to Pondi, identified as General Manager, Operations and Technical at Tantita. The post reportedly praised Tantita field workers as “MVPs” and declared a win. It appeared around the time Daniel reported his arrest, and some observers have linked the two. Nothing verified shows the post referred to the arrest, the petition or the police investigation, and neither Pondi nor Tantita has commented.
As of the time of filing, it had not been independently established who took Daniel away, under what authority, or on what charge. It was also unclear whether he was shown a warrant, an NOHR has asked the Nigeria Police Force and Force Headquarters for clarification. Until police give an official account, claims about the identities, motives and intentions of the men involved remain unverified.
