By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Police Force has explained the reason behind the continued detention of human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, citing his refusal to respond to allegations during interrogation.
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, was detained on Wednesday after voluntarily honouring a police invitation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. He had arrived at the premises in the company of his legal representatives and members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’, a pro-democracy group he leads.
The invitation followed a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, accusing Sowore of forgery and cyberbullying. However, upon arrival, he was taken into custody and remained detained as of Friday, drawing protests from activists and rights groups demanding his immediate release.
Addressing protesters and journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, clarified the circumstances that led to Sowore’s detention.
“The two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him in my presence. One concerns forgery of a police document he published online, and the other relates to cyberbullying,” Shogunle said.
“He was asked to provide the source of the forged document but refused to make a statement in the presence of his lawyers. This refusal is on record.”
Sowore, a long-time critic of government and advocate for civic freedoms, has previously been arrested on several occasions, including a high-profile 2019 detention over his call for a nationwide protest tagged ‘#RevolutionNow’. His current arrest has sparked fears of fresh attempts to muzzle dissenting voices.
While defending the legality of Sowore’s detention, Shogunle stated that the police are acting within the bounds of the law despite concerns that he has been held beyond the constitutionally allowed 24-hour window.
“The procedure under the Nigerian law is very clear. When an allegation is made against you, you are called upon, you have a duty to put down your own position,” he said.
“The same law that gives him the right to remain silent also gives the police the responsibility of certain duties to do when somebody who has been alleged of an offence decides not to talk, which you’re also aware of.
“And I believe we’re professionals, and I believe the procedure as laid down by the law is being followed,” he added.
As of press time, the police have not confirmed whether Sowore will be charged or released soon, but civil society organisations have vowed to intensify pressure on the authorities
