The streets of Abuja echoed with chants of defiance on Friday morning as protesters stormed the Force Headquarters, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of fiery human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Brandishing placards and singing solidarity anthems, the protesters called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to end what they described as the unlawful detention of the pro-democracy campaigner. Demonstrations also erupted in Lagos, Osun, Oyo, and other states, signalling a coordinated nationwide show of resistance against Sowore’s continued incarceration.
Sowore, who honoured an invitation to the IGP’s Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters on Wednesday, was unexpectedly detained—sparking widespread outrage among his supporters, civil society organisations, and human rights advocates.
Addressing the enraged crowd, the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, defended the detention, claiming it was in line with the law. According to Shogunle, Sowore’s arrest was triggered by his alleged refusal to make a statement during interrogation, despite being shown two petitions lodged against him.
> “The first petition borders on the forgery of a police document, which he allegedly published online. The law is clear—you must disclose the source of such a forged document. The second petition involves cyberbullying. Both petitions were shown to him in the presence of his lawyers,” Shogunle stated.
The police chief emphasised that while Sowore had the constitutional right to remain silent, the Nigeria Police Force also had “legal responsibilities” once a suspect chose not to speak.
> “We won’t say because you have decided to keep mute, you can go free. The law provides clear procedures for such situations, and we are following them,” he added.
Sowore’s detention comes barely days after he led a protest demanding better welfare packages for retired police officers and publicly criticised the Nigeria Police Force over a recent promotion exercise. The timing has fuelled speculation among rights groups that the petitions may be politically motivated to silence the outspoken activist.
When pressed by lawyers on why Sowore was being held beyond the constitutional 24-hour limit, Shogunle insisted the police were acting “professionally” and “in accordance with the provisions of the law.” He even offered to escort select protesters to the detention facility to verify that Sowore was not being subjected to physical abuse.
> “He came voluntarily. The moment he refused to make a statement, his arrest was ordered. The law is being followed to the letter,” Shogunle declared.
As the protests intensify, prominent human rights organisations and political commentators are warning that Sowore’s continued detention could inflame nationwide tensions. With social media ablaze under hashtags like #FreeSowore and #JusticeForSowore, the situation has quickly evolved into a test of the Tinubu administration’s tolerance for dissent.
For now, the activist remains behind bars—silent, unyielding, and at the centre of a storm that shows no signs of abating.
PIONEER NEWS 