Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been arrested by the police over his alleged involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held earlier this week. His lawyer, Tope Temokun, disclosed that the police claimed the arrest was based on a court order and Sowore’s participation in the demonstration.
According to Temokun, the activist was deceived into detention at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in Abuja after officers misled him into believing he was being taken to meet the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
“We were in court for one of Sowore’s ongoing cases when some police officers approached us and said the Commissioner of Police wanted to see him. They assured us he was not under arrest, only invited for a discussion,” Temokun explained.
He narrated that they accompanied Sowore to the DCCID office, where a senior officer, CSP Iliyasu Aleru Barau, allegedly attempted to compel the activist to write a statement despite his insistence that he was not under arrest.
Temokun said the officers later claimed they were taking Sowore to see the IGP but ended up detaining him at the IRT office, where officials said they were acting under orders from the Abuja Police Command and the IGP.
The police reportedly cited only a vague “court order” and Sowore’s involvement in a protest as justification for his detention.
“They could not provide any concrete reason for the arrest. When I asked about the supposed court order, one officer—who claimed to be a lawyer—said they would clarify the issue when Sowore is arraigned,” Temokun said.
“It’s clear they are acting under political pressure to silence him and suppress dissent.”
The protest, which Sowore organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, sought the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The peaceful demonstration, however, turned chaotic when security operatives allegedly fired teargas to disperse protesters, arresting several participants including Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and his brother Emmanuel Kanu.
Sowore, before his arrest, had visited the detainees at Kuje Prison, assuring supporters that they were “in high spirits” and that legal efforts were ongoing to secure their freedom.
Meanwhile, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, a civic group founded by Sowore, has condemned his arrest, threatening nationwide protests if he is not released immediately.
“This is a clear attempt to intimidate and silence activists calling for justice and accountability,” the group said in a statement.
The development adds to ongoing tensions between civil rights activists and security agencies, with many observers warning that such crackdowns threaten Nigeria’s democratic freedoms.
