International human rights group, Amnesty International, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Nigerian human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is reportedly being held under arbitrary detention by Nigeria Police authorities, Peak Newspaper Nigeria reports
In a strongly worded statement, Amnesty International condemned what it described as a sustained pattern of harassment and intimidation by the Nigeria Police against Sowore, urging the government to respect his fundamental rights.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Sowore and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him,” the organization said. “The authorities should listen to critics instead of seeking to gag them through outright abuse of power.”
Amnesty International further stressed that Sowore must be allowed to fully exercise his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights treaties to which the country is a signatory.
The organization expressed deep concern over Sowore’s ongoing legal battles and described the series of charges against him as a tool to silence dissent.
Since 2019, Sowore has faced multiple arrests, prolonged detentions, and what Amnesty described as “sham trials based on bogus charges.”
