Share!
Group Blasts Police Over Arrest, Detention of Sowore
The Youth Arise Movement has condemned the arrest and continued detention of human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigerian Police Force.
Sowore, a prominent advocate for justice, transparency, and accountable governance, was reportedly taken into custody on August 6, 2025, after honouring an invitation from the police.
The group described his detention as unlawful and a violation of rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and international human rights law.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Babatunde Ademola, the Youth Arise Movement expressed concern over the activist’s whereabouts, saying he was whisked away to an undisclosed location in the early hours of Thursday.
“This latest arrest follows a troubling pattern of state repression targeting activists, journalists, and youth voices calling for good governance,” the group said.
“It is unacceptable in a democratic society for security agencies to criminalise dissent and suppress legitimate calls for change through unlawful detention and intimidation.”
The group maintained that the police, as a constitutional body, is not above criticism and should not use its powers to deter its critics and watchdogs. It also lamented that the country is short of police personnel to tackle the growing wave of insecurity, rather than deploying officers to silence dissenting voices.
Since 2019, Sowore has faced arbitrary detentions and trials over what the group described as the peaceful exercise of his human rights. Amnesty International had in November 2019 declared him a Prisoner of Conscience after being detained for his activism.
“The case of Sowore shows just how far the authorities in Nigeria can go to silence peaceful dissent,” the Youth Arise Movement noted, while calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
The statement further urged civil society organisations, the Nigerian public, and the international community to speak out against what it described as injustice and demand accountability from the authorities.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all,” the group declared. “Enough is enough.”
No related posts.
