Nigeria's Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a Marxist activist and leader of the Talakawa Parliament, Comrade Kola Edokpayi, over his involvement in organizing a rally in support of Burkina Faso's junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The planned rally, intended as a Pan-African solidarity demonstration, has sparked controversy and raised concerns among authorities about its potential to incite unrest.

The rally was part of a broader Pan-African effort to support Captain Traoré's resistance against French neo-colonialism in West Africa. United under the banner "Hands Off the AES!", protesters took to the streets in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberia in support of the junta leader. The demonstrations denounced foreign interference and condemned ongoing imperialist efforts to destabilize the region.

Recent acts of aggression targeting Sahel nations have triggered a wave of solidarity across the African continent, with thousands rallying in support of Burkina Faso and its revolutionary leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The outpouring of support comes in the wake of a foiled coup attempt in Burkina Faso, which authorities say was orchestrated on April 21.

The government described the plot as a deliberate attempt to plunge the country into chaos and derail its revolutionary trajectory under Traoré's leadership. Adding fuel to the tension, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) issued a controversial statement last month, accusing Captain Traoré of diverting Burkina Faso's gold reserves to sustain his military government, rather than using the wealth to benefit the people.

Langley's remarks have drawn widespread backlash from Pan-African activists and supporters of Burkinabè sovereignty, who view the statement as emblematic of a broader pattern of Western intrusion into African political and economic affairs. Critics argue that such narratives serve to undermine self-determined African governance and perpetuate neo-colonial control over the continent's resources.

In an interview with SaharaReporters, a source close to Edokpayi shared the details of his arrest. "He had organized the solidarity rally, but a day before the event, the Commissioner of Police contacted him for a meeting and urged him to cancel the protest. Edokpayi agreed and directed his team to call off the rally. However, DSS and police officers later raided his office, forcibly entered, and arrested six people. While four were released, Edokpayi and one other individual were detained."

The arrest of Edokpayi and the crackdown on the rally have raised concerns about the Nigerian government's stance on Pan-African solidarity and its willingness to suppress dissenting voices. The incident has sparked a heated debate about the role of foreign powers in African affairs and the need for African nations to assert their sovereignty and independence.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Nigerian government will respond to the growing criticism and whether it will take steps to address the concerns of Pan-African activists and supporters of Burkinabè sovereignty. One thing is clear, however: the arrest of Edokpayi and the crackdown on the rally have sparked a wider conversation about the need for African nations to come together and resist foreign interference in their affairs.