Activist Olawale Bakare popularly known as Mandate, who is standing trial with pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore in a case brought against them by the Nigerian Government, has been declared missing.

Bakare

Thelagostimes had earlier reported that operatives of the Department of State Services had stormed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday morning during the commencement of their trial and disrupted proceedings in an attempt to forcefully rearrest the two men.

According to SaharaReporters, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lawyer to the two men, Femi Falana was said to have ferried the defendants in his car to the DSS headquarters where they were said to have been detained.

However, only Sowore, who was in Falana’s vehicle as they left the court, was reportedly submitted back to the DSS.

Operatives of the agency are currently searching for Bakare in different parts of Abuja.

SaharaReporters further report that armed security personnel in their search for the young activist, stormed Falana’s chamber in Abuja this afternoon hoping to find him there.

A lawyer at the chamber confirmed to SaharaReporters that armed DSS operatives visited the place minutes ago looking for Bakare after claiming that he was not in their facility.

The lawyer, who asked not to be named, said, “DSS operatives just stormed our chamber now looking for Olawale Bakare. They claimed it was discovered he was not with them by the time they arrived their office. They are currently searching everywhere for him. We are hoping that he is safe wherever he is.”