Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of human rights activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, describing the action by the Nigeria Police Force as “an open assault on democracy” and a glaring sign of President **Bola Tinubu’s administration’s contempt for the rule of law.”
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Atiku expressed outrage over the arrest of Sowore and several other citizens who participated in peaceful demonstrations across the country as part of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest movement.
“I have just been informed of the arrest of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, @YeleSowore, by the Nigeria Police, as well as the arrest of several other citizens who were peacefully protesting in different parts of the country,” Atiku wrote.
The former Vice President said he was “shocked and disappointed, but not surprised” by the government’s response to peaceful protests.
“Shocked that in 2025, decades after we defeated military rule, this government still treats dissent as a crime. Disappointed because those in power today once thrived on protests,” he said.
“But not surprised, for Bola Tinubu continues to show Nigerians exactly who he is and what he intends to be, if we allow him.”
Atiku described Sowore’s reported arrest “inside a courtroom” as “a new low, an open assault on democracy, and a grave symbol of this administration’s contempt for the rule of law.”
He warned that the detention of Sowore and other protesters “deepens the stain” on Nigeria’s democratic image and urged the government to release them immediately.
“Protest is not a crime; it is a constitutional right,” he emphasised. “The immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore and all those arrested during and after the protest is non-negotiable. Democracy cannot coexist with tyranny.”
According to reports obtained by SaharaReporters, Sowore was arrested on the orders of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had appeared for a pending case involving an alleged forged police wireless message — a charge he has described as “bogus and farcical.”
Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, confirmed that his client was arrested under the pretext of a court order and his alleged involvement in the protest. Temokun further revealed that the activist was misled into detention at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office after police officers falsely claimed they were taking him to meet the Inspector-General of Police.
Prior to his arrest, Sowore had mobilised Nigerians for peaceful demonstrations via his X handle, urging citizens to “carry a sign, sing a song, make a statement.” However, the protests were disrupted when security operatives reportedly fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leading to multiple arrests, including Aloy Ejimakor, a lawyer to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, and Emmanuel Kanu, his brother.
Sowore, before his own arrest, had visited the detained protesters at Kuje Prison, assuring supporters that they were “in high spirits” and that efforts were underway to secure their release.
The former Vice President’s reaction adds to the growing list of condemnations from human rights organisations, labour groups, and civil society actors who have criticised the Tinubu administration for what they describe as a renewed crackdown on civic freedoms in Nigeria.