By Peter Omopo
Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, was on Thursday arrested by armed policemen at the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after attending court proceedings in solidarity with the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore, who has been a vocal advocate for Kanu’s release, was reportedly accosted by security operatives within the court premises and told that he was wanted at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
According to eyewitnesses, Sowore questioned the legality of the arrest and demanded to see a formal letter of invitation. However, the officers maintained that they were acting on the orders of the Commissioner of Police.
“The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office,” one of the officers was quoted as saying.
Despite his protests, Sowore insisted that his lawyer accompany him before he was eventually whisked away in a police van.
Confirming the arrest on X (formerly Twitter), human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the action, describing it as “preposterous.”
He 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.”
Sowore’s arrest comes just days after he led a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja on October 20, a demonstration that reportedly spread to other parts of the country. During that protest, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his brother Emmanuel Kanu, and ten others were arrested and later remanded at Kuje Prison.
In a First Information Report (FIR) filed before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kuje, the police alleged that the protesters chanted war songs, disrupted traffic, and violated a court order. They were accused of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace, offences punishable under Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Police Command has not issued an official statement explaining the reasons for Sowore’s arrest, though sources suggest it may be connected to his continued involvement in pro-Kanu demonstrations.
