Protesters on Friday stormed the Force Headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, from police custody.
Dressed in black and waving the Nigerian flag, the demonstrators sang anti-government songs and accused the police of intimidation. They denied reports that they barricaded any roads during the protest.
“We are exercising our fundamental constitutional rights,” one protester told journalists. “We did not block any road. An Assistant Commissioner of Police came here with a dog to intimidate us. We are here within the ambit of the law — let it be on record.”
Sowore, accompanied by supporters, had gone to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to honour a police invitation. The Nigeria Police Force, through the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, is investigating him over alleged forgery and inciting disturbance.
However, he was detained on Thursday and has yet to regain his freedom. Reports also allege that officers broke his hand while attempting to forcibly move him from custody to court early Thursday morning.
Amnesty International condemned the development, describing it as a violation of human rights and due process.
“Amnesty International just received deeply disturbing reports of a violent attempt by the police to forcibly drag activist Omoyele Sowore from his cell to court at 6:00 a.m. As a result, he sustained a severe injury on his left hand and has since been taken to an unknown location,” the rights group posted on Facebook.
The organisation called for Sowore’s immediate release, adequate medical care, and the dropping of what it described as “bogus and politically motivated charges” against him.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with political leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemning his arrest.
