Following the spread of a viral video where Ushie Rita Uguamaye (Raye), a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, expressed critical views of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has voiced his support and has stated that he would be accompanying her to the NYSC office, indicating his involvement in the matter.
On Monday, Omoyele Sowore announced via X that he met with Ushie Rita Uguamaye in Lagos and would escort her, along with legal counsel, to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office.
“The journey with youth Corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has commenced in Lagos.
“She is scheduled to appear before the LGI (Local Government Inspector) today and we will escort her to their offices. We are all en route with attorneys,” Sowore captioned the video.
A TikTok video in which the corps member openly lamented the country’s worsening economic situation and criticized President Tinubu’s leadership led to her recent surge in online prominence.
After her video gained traction, the corps member reported receiving threats, immediately escalating the situation.
This claim sparked a fervent national debate regarding the protection of free speech and the space for political dissent, underscoring the urgency of safeguarding these rights in Nigeria.
She also shared a screenshot of an invitation from the NYSC, summoning her to appear before the LGI office at Eti Osa 3 on Monday at 10:00 am
Omoyele Sowore’s intervention has significantly heightened the profile of Ushie Rita Uguamaye’s case, intensifying scrutiny on the potential actions the NYSC or other authorities might take.
To date, the NYSC has not released an official statement regarding the situation.