Amnesty International Nigeria has strongly condemned the detention of human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, labelling it as arbitrary and politically motivated. Sowore was detained after honouring a police invitation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. The police, through the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, are reportedly investigating him for alleged forgery and inciting disturbance.
The rights organisation, in a statement posted on its official X account, described the charges as “bogus” and part of a broader pattern of harassment and intimidation by the Nigerian police against critics of the government. Amnesty International demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, insisting that the activist is being punished for exercising his constitutional rights to free expression and peaceful protest.
According to Amnesty International, this incident is not isolated. Since 2019, Sowore has repeatedly faced arbitrary detention and unfair trials for his activism. The organisation noted that it had previously declared him a Prisoner of Conscience, citing the government’s persistent efforts to silence his peaceful dissent through legal manipulation and abuse of power.
The activist’s detention has sparked widespread outrage, both online and offline, with trending hashtags like #FreeSoworeNow and #RevolutionNow dominating social media. Many Nigerians and civil society organisations have joined the call for his release, warning that the ongoing suppression of dissent threatens democracy and the rule of law in the country.
