Nigerian youth advocate and feminist leader Oruche Ogeamara Precious, popularly known as Mama P, has reportedly been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Edo State Police Command headquarters in Benin City.

Her detention follows an alleged attack by thugs believed to be loyal to Julius Abure, the former leader of an unrecognised Labour Party (LP) faction. The assault reportedly occurred at the Benin Airport in Edo State.

Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Labour Party chieftain and spokesperson for the Obi-Datti campaign organisation, confirmed the development on his X handle. He revealed that the party’s legal director has been instructed to send lawyers to secure her release and called on Nigerians to act swiftly.

“Mama P is being detained at the State CID in Benin. I have just spoken to our legal director to deploy lawyers for her rescue. We want more people to come for her rescue — lawyers and all concerned should please mount immediate action. We need everyone’s support for her now,” Tanko wrote.

Mama P, a vocal supporter of LP’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, is known for openly criticising political figures. Reports by Parallel Facts allege that the thugs who attacked her are closely linked to Abure, who is now aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Her arrest has sparked outrage among Labour Party supporters and civil society groups, who view it as a deliberate attempt to silence dissenting voices within the party and Nigeria’s political space.