Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The arrest, which occurred on Thursday, took place shortly after Sowore appeared at the court to show solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Confirming the development to Newsmen, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Sowore is currently in police custody and is expected to be charged to court today.
According to Hundeyin, the activist was arrested for allegedly violating a court order prohibiting protests around the Three Arms Zone in Abuja — an area that houses Nigeria’s key institutions, including the Presidency, National Assembly, and the Supreme Court.
Reactions Trail Arrest
Reacting to the arrest, prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the police action, describing it as “preposterous.”
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Effiong wrote: “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.”
Link to #FreeNnamdiKanu Protest
Sowore’s arrest comes just days after he led the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on Monday, demanding the release of the IPOB leader.
During that rally, security operatives reportedly arrested Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer; Emmanuel Kanu, his brother; and ten other protesters.
A Magistrate Court in Kuje subsequently ordered their remand in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending trial. The Nigeria Police later charged them with two counts — inciting public disturbance and breach of peace — alleging that they blocked traffic, disrupted public order, and chanted war songs while demanding Kanu’s release.
Sowore had earlier accused security agencies of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful demonstrators during Monday’s rally, calling the arrests “an assault on free speech and citizens’ right to protest.”
Omoyele Sowore, a long-time activist and publisher of the online news platform Sahara Reporters, has been repeatedly detained over his role in organizing protests and speaking out against government policies.
His latest arrest underscores renewed tensions between security forces and civic activists in Nigeria, as public demonstrations over issues of governance and justice continue to draw official scrutiny.
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