Stanley Didia who is better known by his stage name Omah Lay has revealed that he has been put in handcuffs after initially confirmed via his Twitter page that he was being held by the Ugandan police.
The singer made the confirmation on Sunday 13th December 2020, after rumours that he and his colleague Tems were under arrest in Uganda.
In his tweet, the Port Harcourt-born singer said; “Yes I’m with the Ugandan police about the show from last night.”
He went ahead to assure his fans that things would be fine, dropping a line from his song saying; “Oluwa na him comfort me”.
Yes I’m with the Ugandan police… something about the show from last night. Everything would be fine…
Omah ?
— Omah Lay (@Omah_Lay) December 13, 2020
Oluwa na him comfort me ??
— Omah Lay (@Omah_Lay) December 13, 2020
Before he confirmed his arrest, social media users had alleged the singer was arrested along with another Nigerian singer, Tems.
While Omah Lay has confirmed his arrest, Tems has said nothing even though she was billed to perform just as Omah Lay was.
She had even tweeted a video of fans cheering her and wrote; “Uganda! Thank you so much! Rebel Gang worldwide!”
In addition, pictures of Tems and Omah Lay in what appears to be police custody has been going round.
Many fans in Nigerian and other parts of the world have been calling for their immediate release and are trending the hashtags; #FreeTems and #FreeOmahLay.
On Monday 14th December 2020, Omah Lay tweeted that he and Tems were in cuffs.
About a day before the concert and two days before their arrest, Ugandan superstar Bebe Cool had been accused of threatening to foil Omah Lay and Tems’ concert. Bebe Cool was said to be angry at the fact that the Nigerian singers could come to Uganda and charge higher than local acts for concerts.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the Kampala Metropolitan Police; Superintendent of Police, Patrick Onyango confirmed that the arrest was due to them flouting coronavirus guidelines.
They had also arrested Tems’ manager and several others including the show’s organisers.
There are still people actively agitating for Tems and Omah Lay to be freed. See some of their posts on Twitter below:
#FreeTems #FreeOmahLay
It is wrong to arrest an international artiste invited to your country by people in your country.Uganda should do better.
Uganda should release Tems and OmahLay.Please speak up for them.#FreeTems #FreeOmahLay
Lend your voice.
Until Uganda sees this.— #OurFavOnlineDoc ?????? (@DrOlufunmilayo) December 14, 2020
Are they the show organizers? Except everyone that attended the show was also arrested, then this makes no sense #FreeOmahLay #FreeTems .
— PON DECK (@joeboyofficial) December 14, 2020
Ugandan Govt isn’t allowing @NigeriaMFA intervene on behalf of its citizens. Tag Ugandan Govt officials & their ambassador in Nigeria, call them out till they release them. We are not Criminals, We are all Africans & Africa should be home to all not prison. #FreeOmahLay #FreeTems https://t.co/J3EdXQIOdW
— Samuel Otigba (@SamuelOtigba) December 14, 2020
This could be anyone of us! ?#FreeTems #FreeOmahLay
— Chiké (@Officialchike) December 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/Captainjossy/status/1338522862739542018?s=19
This doesn’t make sense! Nigeria better do something about it
So so wrong
Something fishy is going down
Oh well. Their country, their rule. If they broke laws, they gotta face the music, literally. Nonetheless, hope this is not witch hunting.