In a dramatic turn of events today, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested by Nigerian police officers within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The arrest occurred shortly after Sowore appeared in court for a scheduled hearing related to charges he has previously described as “bogus and farcical,” including alleged forgery of a police wireless message. The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, was reportedly absent, and the session did not proceed as planned.
Eyewitnesses and live footage shared on Sowore’s social media platforms captured the moment a police officer informed him that he was being taken to the office of the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory. Although the officer insisted it was not an arrest but an invitation, Sowore questioned the legitimacy of the action, citing the absence of a formal letter of invitation.
Sowore agreed to accompany the officers, but only in the presence of his legal counsel. The incident has sparked immediate reactions from civil society groups and fellow activists, many of whom view the arrest as a continuation of targeted harassment against dissenting voices in Nigeria.
The arrest also follows Sowore’s recent involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which demanded the unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. During the protest earlier this week, several demonstrators, including Kanu’s brother and legal representatives, were reportedly detained amid heavy police presence.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and vocal critic of government policies, has faced multiple arrests and legal battles in recent years. His supporters argue that these actions are politically motivated attempts to silence opposition and curtail freedom of expression.