…we want to make it categorically clear that Sowore’s arrest is not just about him.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times| Omoyele Sowore, a prominent Nigerian activist, journalist, and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been detained by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. His arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into allegations of forgery and incitement to public disturbance.
Sowore, who voluntarily honoured a police summons from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit, appeared at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, reportedly carrying a small travel bag containing essentials such as soap, toothpaste, and other personal effects, an indication that he anticipated being detained.
According to sources close to the development, the police obtained a court order authorizing Sowore’s detention, though specific details about the charges or the identity of the petitioner remain undisclosed.
This latest arrest adds to the long list of legal confrontations between Sowore and Nigerian security agencies, dating back to his 2019 arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his call for the #RevolutionNow protests, an act the state interpreted as an attempt to overthrow the government.
In swift reaction to Wednesday’s events, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, a civic group closely aligned with Sowore’s activism, issued a strongly worded statement late Wednesday night, describing the arrest as part of an ongoing campaign of intimidation against dissenting voices in Nigeria.
Juwon Sanyaolu, TIB’s National Coordinator, who signed the statement, described Sowore’s detention as “politically motivated” and accused the police of violating the activist’s fundamental rights by refusing him access to the petition lodged against him and withholding the identity of the petitioner.
“This act of injustice further demonstrates the Nigerian state’s increasing intolerance for criticism, civil resistance, and democratic engagement,” Sanyaolu said. “We want to make it categorically clear that Sowore’s arrest is not just about him. It is about every Nigerian whose voice has been silenced or threatened.”
The group warned that it would not remain silent while one of its leading voices is “unjustly targeted” and called on students, civil society groups, labour unions, and citizens to prepare for a coordinated nationwide protest.
“Accordingly, the Nigerian people, students, workers, the public, and the entire membership are hereby put on notice for a nationwide protest against the continuous harassment of Sowore and the unlawful use of state institutions to suppress dissent,” the statement read.
As of the time of this report, neither the police spokesperson nor any senior police official has issued an official statement regarding the charges or duration of Sowore’s detention.
Legal experts and rights activists have raised concerns over the increasing use of court orders to justify pre-trial detentions, particularly in politically sensitive cases. Human rights organisations are already mobilising legal teams and calling for transparency and adherence to due process in Sowore’s case.
This development comes amid broader concerns about shrinking civic space and a rising tide of repression in Nigeria’s democratic environment. Observers are watching closely to see whether the situation will escalate into mass protests or if the authorities will move swiftly to de-escalate tensions by releasing the activist.
