The Nigeria Police Force has explained why it arrested human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, on Thursday over the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Sowore allegedly led the protesters into a restricted area, violating a lawful court order.
“Sowore broke the law during Monday’s protest and he will be charged. He led the protesters to restricted areas which a lawful court order restricted them not to protest around those key national infrastructures,” Hundeyin said.
He added that the arrest was part of efforts to ensure justice for all parties involved.
“If we go ahead to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them into that restricted area — their leader, the elite protester who directed and took them there — that would not be fair,” he said.
Hundeyin also assured that Sowore would not be detained beyond the time permitted by law, adding that he would be charged to court soon.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, was arrested outside the Federal High Court in Abuja while covering another case. His arrest followed Monday’s protest demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Take It Back Movement condemned Sowore’s arrest, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent. The group’s coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, warned that any harassment of Sowore would attract a nationwide protest.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have also criticised Nigeria’s frequent use of legal charges against journalists and activists.
