Human rights activist, journalist, and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Sowore, who is the publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, was at the court to attend a proceeding over what he earlier described as a “fabricated” case bordering on alleged forgery of a police wireless message.
According to eyewitnesses, the activist was accosted by police officers shortly after he exited the courtroom following the judge’s absence. Reports indicate that a police officer informed him he was under arrest on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sowore’s lawyers, led by human rights advocate Barrister Tope Temokun, questioned the legality of the arrest, demanding to see a warrant. However, the police insisted they were acting on superior instructions and subsequently whisked Sowore away in a waiting vehicle to an undisclosed location.
The development has sparked concern among civil rights advocates who described the move as another attempt to suppress dissenting voices and intimidate critics of government policies.
This incident marks yet another chapter in Sowore’s long-standing confrontation with state authorities. The activist has previously faced multiple arrests and detentions over his advocacy for good governance, transparency, and citizens’ rights.
As of the time of this release, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the FCT Command has issued an official statement clarifying the reason for the arrest.
