Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has called on the Nigerian Army to release a social media content creator, Mark Chidiebere Justice, popularly known as @JusticeCracks, who was allegedly arrested following a video he posted online.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Sowore claimed that the activist was taken into custody after speaking out about the controversial death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member during a military operation in Abuja.
According to Sowore, Justice’s vehicle was reportedly seen at the premises of the Defence Intelligence Agency, with allegations that he was picked up by Brigadier General W.A. Adegoke. He argued that the activist’s only offence was raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident and highlighting issues faced by soldiers on the frontlines.
The development follows public outrage over the death of Abdulsamad Jamiu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, who was killed during a security operation in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory.
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According to an earlier statement by the army, troops on a routine night patrol had responded to a distress call regarding an ongoing armed robbery at Shagari Estate. Upon arrival, they reportedly came under heavy gunfire from fleeing suspects, resulting in a brief exchange.
Jamiu was said to have been caught in the crossfire during the incident and later died from injuries sustained at the scene, despite efforts by troops to secure the area and save lives.
Sowore, however, described the situation as an extrajudicial killing and urged the military authorities to release the detained activist without delay, insisting that citizens should not be punished for expressing concerns over matters of public interest.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement confirming the arrest of the content creator or responding to the allegations.