Amnesty International has strongly condemned the arbitrary detention and continued harassment of human rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
In a statement on its X handle on Wednesday, the global human rights body described the charges against Sowore as “bogus and politically motivated,” urging the Nigerian authorities to drop all allegations without delay.
“The authorities should listen to critics instead of seeking to gag them through outright abuse of power,” Amnesty said.
According to the organization, Sowore has been subjected to a series of human rights violations since 2019, including arbitrary detentions, sham trials, and persistent intimidation, all aimed at silencing peaceful dissent.
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“In November 2019, Amnesty International declared Sowore a Prisoner of Conscience after he was detained solely for his peaceful activism. The case of Sowore shows just how far the authorities in Nigeria can go to stifle freedom of expression,” the statement added.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to respect Sowore’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, stressing that attempts to muzzle dissenting voices undermine the country’s democratic principles.