Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has visited Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel to the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, along with other protesters held by the Nigeria Police Force following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration in Abuja.
Sowore announced the visit in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, noting that he had a “productive meeting” with Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu (Nnamdi Kanu’s brother), Barrister Wisdom Okere, and ten other detained activists.
“We had a productive meeting today with Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister @AloyEjimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, Barrister Wisdom Okere, and 10 others who were arrested and brutalised by the Nigeria Police Force for participating in a peaceful #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest at Kuje Prison,” Sowore stated.
He commended the group’s courage, saying they remain “in high spirits” despite their ordeal. However, Sowore accused the FCT Police Command of further mistreating the detainees after his visit, alleging that officers fired tear gas at them before taking them to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Abattoir facility.
“Unfortunately, the @FCT_PoliceNG Command further maltreated them after we parted ways on Monday, by heavily unleashing tear gas against them within their premises before detaining them at the notorious #SARS Abattoir,” he added.
Condemning the incident, Sowore called for the removal of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, citing what he described as “irresponsible leadership.”
The October 20 protest in Abuja was organised to demand Kanu’s immediate release from DSS custody. During the demonstration, Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and 11 others were arrested and later charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, and breach of public peace.
Following their arraignment, a Kuje Magistrate Court ordered that the detainees be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre. Ejimakor later said the case was deliberately taken to that particular court in an act he suggested was politically motivated.
In a post from detention, Ejimakor assured supporters that he was safe, stating, “The Magistrate refused to hear our submissions and insisted on remanding us till Friday.”
The arrests have sparked outrage among human rights and pro-democracy groups, who accused the Nigerian authorities of criminalising peaceful protest and suppressing dissenting voices calling for justice and freedom for Nnamdi Kanu.
