Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore was on Thursday arrested by armed police officers at the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after attending proceedings in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Sowore, a vocal advocate for Kanu’s release, was reportedly approached by security operatives who insisted he accompany them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command. When he inquired about the reason for his arrest, one of the officers stated that they were acting on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police, saying:
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office.”
Although Sowore questioned the lack of a formal invitation and requested that his lawyer accompany him, he was eventually taken away in a police van.
Confirming the development, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong described the arrest as “preposterous” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous. The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system. He should be freed immediately. Stop the shenanigans,” Effiong wrote.
Sowore’s arrest comes days after he led a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, October 20, as part of nationwide demonstrations demanding Kanu’s release.
Reacting to the incident, Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said Sowore’s arrest was connected to his role in Monday’s protest. Hundeyin explained that Sowore allegedly led demonstrators into a restricted area, prompting police action to ensure equal treatment of all participants.
“If we charge some people to court and leave the person who led them into a restricted area, that would not be fair. In the spirit of fair play and justice, Omoyele Sowore was arrested today,” Hundeyin stated.
He added that Sowore’s detention would be brief and that he would face prosecution without delay.
“He won’t be with us for long—certainly not up to 24 hours. Once we complete the charges, he will be arraigned today,” Hundeyin said.
