A coalition of human rights activists on Friday staged a protest at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, demanding the immediate release of human rights campaigner and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Free Sowore Now”, “Journalism is Not a Crime”, and “End Arbitrary Detention”, accused the police of unlawfully holding Sowore despite what they described as the absence of credible charges against him.
The protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations until Sowore is freed, warning that his prolonged detention could trigger wider nationwide protests.
Police officers were seen monitoring the demonstration, which remained peaceful.
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As of the time of filing this report, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had not issued an official response to the protest.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and outspoken critic of the government, was arrested earlier this week, a move Amnesty International has also condemned as “arbitrary” and “politically motivated.”
