The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the arrest of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alongside other protesters arrested in Abuja following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow peaceful.
In a statement issued on Thursday, SERAP said, “The Tinubu administration must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and other protesters reportedly arbitrarily arrested following a peaceful protest on Monday in Abuja.”
The rights group condemned the arrests, describing them as violations of fundamental human rights guaranteed under both domestic and international law.
“No one should ever be arrested simply for peacefully exercising their human rights,” SERAP said.
“The authorities must immediately release Omoyele Sowore and all the protesters arbitrarily detained and end the violations of protesters’ rights. Peaceful assembly is a fundamental right.”
Citing legal provisions, SERAP emphasised that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights all guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Nigerian authorities must uphold and ensure the effective enjoyment of these fundamental rights,” the organisation stated, urging the government to respect democratic principles and stop the use of arbitrary detention as a tool to silence dissent.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the police claimed that Sowore was arrested to ensure “fairness” in the case involving the protesters who demanded the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the human rights activist was arrested shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had appeared on Thursday.
According to information obtained by SaharaReporters, the arrest was ordered by the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sowore, who was scheduled to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite over what he described as a “bogus and farcical” charge of alleged forgery of a police wireless message, filed under the instruction of the “illegal Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun”, was informed at the court that the judge would not be sitting.
A source disclosed that a police officer approached Sowore, informing him that he was under arrest on the orders of the FCT Commissioner of Police.
Tope Temokun, one of the lawyers representing Sowore, later disclosed that the police had claimed his client was arrested based on a court order and his alleged involvement in a protest.
On Monday, Sowore led the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest by mobilising Nigerians nationwide and advocating for peaceful demonstrations demanding the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Addressing journalists at the Force headquarters, the police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed Sowore was arrested for allegedly leading protesters into a restricted area during the demonstration, which he claimed breached a court order.
Hundeyin emphasised that it would be unfair to charge some protesters to court while leaving out the person who led them.
“Sowore has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force. You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward.
“The thirteen people previously arrested all mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order,” Hundeyin explained.
He added that his arrest was to apply justice equally.
“If we move from there to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them to commit that act, more like their leader, the elite protester who told them and took them into the restricted area, that would not be fair.”
The police spokesman assured that Sowore would not be detained beyond the legally stipulated period and would be arraigned promptly.
“Like the others, he wouldn’t spend time with us. He wouldn’t spend up to 24 hours with us. Once we wrap up the charges, he’s going to be prosecuted.
“In fact, if everything goes right, our plan is to ensure that he’s prosecuted today,” Hundeyin added.
Thirteen individuals were initially arrested in connection with the protest, with eight apprehended around the Transcorp area and five others around the Ministry of Finance.
They were arraigned in court within 24 hours, and the police plan to arraign Sowore similarly.
In January, Sowore was arrested and detained for referring to IGP Kayode Egbetokun as “illegal IGP” on social media, with the police filing 17 counts of cybercrime offenses against him.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about human rights violations and the misuse of bail conditions to intimidate activists in Nigeria.
