By Muhammad Mamman
Amnesty International has fiercely denounced the detention of human rights campaigner and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, branding it a blatant abuse of power and calling for his swift release.
In a scathing statement issued on Thursday, the global rights organisation condemned the Nigerian authorities for their heavy-handed tactics. “The attempt to haul Sowore into a judicial process without access to his lawyer is a shocking violation of the rule of law,” Amnesty declared.
The organisation revealed a “deeply disturbing” incident in which police allegedly attempted to forcibly remove Sowore from his cell at 6:00am for a court appearance, resulting in a severe injury to his left hand. “He has now been whisked away to an undisclosed location,” the statement added, raising alarm over his wellbeing.
Amnesty urged the Nigerian government to rein in the police, ensure Sowore receives urgent medical attention, and uphold due process. “The authorities must respect the rule of law and cease this outrageous mistreatment,” the group insisted.
The organisation further called on Nigerian officials to address critics’ grievances rather than silencing them through intimidation. “Sowore must be released unconditionally, and all politically motivated charges against him dropped,” Amnesty demanded.
Sowore was arrested on Wednesday after complying with a police summons for questioning over alleged forgery and incitement. Prominent rights activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju also condemned the detention as unlawful, accusing Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun of exploiting his position to pursue personal vendettas.
