By Edem Ekpo
The arrest of activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police Force has triggered a wave of condemnation from political leaders, labour unions, civil society groups, and international rights organisations.
Prominent figures, including former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as well as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have demanded Sowore’s unconditional release or his immediate arraignment in court.
Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, described the arrest as “a miscarriage of justice” and “an abuse of state power,” stressing that Sowore had been detained despite honouring a police invitation.
“When those entrusted with power act unjustly, they poison not only the legal order but also the moral conscience of the nation,” Obi warned, adding that such conduct erodes public trust in security institutions.
Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the arrest as “a shameful abuse of power” and “an attack on civil liberties,” arguing that Sowore’s “only offense is speaking truth to power.” Atiku cautioned that silencing dissent endangers Nigeria’s democracy.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, through its president Joe Ajaero, warned that the repeated targeting of Sowore signals a drift towards authoritarianism. “If Sowore can be detained without clear charges today, no Nigerian is safe tomorrow,” Ajaero declared, urging the police to uphold constitutional rights and due process.
Civil society groups have echoed these concerns. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and the Arewa Youth Ambassadors labelled the arrest unconstitutional, citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. The Arewa group issued a 72-hour ultimatum for Sowore’s release, threatening mass protests across northern Nigeria if the demand is ignored.
International scrutiny has also intensified. Amnesty International accused the police of “brutalizing” Sowore during a forced transfer, alleging he sustained a broken hand in custody. The global rights watchdog demanded his release, access to medical treatment, and an end to what it called politically motivated harassment.
A coalition of youth civic groups warned that any harm to Sowore while in detention could provoke a nationwide backlash. “The youth of Nigeria will not remain silent,” they declared, insisting that the right to dissent remains a cornerstone of democracy.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, was arrested on Thursday shortly after honouring a police invitation. As of press time, the police had not disclosed formal charges against him, a silence that has only deepened public suspicion over the motive for his detention.