The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of human rights activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, alongside other protesters arrested during the recent #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the rights group urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to uphold constitutional freedoms and stop the “unlawful and arbitrary detention” of peaceful protesters.
“The Tinubu administration must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and other protesters reportedly arbitrarily arrested following a peaceful protest on Monday in Abuja,” SERAP stated.
Condemning the arrests as a clear violation of fundamental human rights, SERAP said no one should be detained simply for peacefully exercising their constitutional freedoms.
“No one should ever be arrested simply for peacefully exercising their human rights,” the group said. “The authorities must immediately release Omoyele Sowore and all the protesters arbitrarily detained and end the violations of protesters’ rights. Peaceful assembly is a fundamental right.”
Citing relevant legal frameworks, SERAP reminded the government that the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights all guarantee citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
“Nigerian authorities must uphold and ensure the effective enjoyment of these fundamental rights,” the organisation added, urging the government to respect democratic principles and end the use of arbitrary detention to silence dissenting voices.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters, was arrested shortly after leaving the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, where he was scheduled to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite over what he described as a “bogus and farcical” charge of alleged forgery of a police wireless message.
According to reports, the arrest was ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the grounds that Sowore had led protesters into a “restricted area” during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration.
Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed Sowore’s arrest, claiming it was necessary to ensure fairness in the treatment of protesters.
“The thirteen people previously arrested all mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order,” Hundeyin said. “If we move from there to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them to commit that act, that would not be fair.”
Hundeyin assured that Sowore would not be detained beyond the legal timeframe and would be arraigned promptly.
Thirteen protesters had earlier been arrested around the Transcorp area and the Ministry of Finance, and were arraigned within 24 hours. The police say Sowore will face a similar process.
This latest arrest has reignited criticism of Nigeria’s human rights record, with observers accusing the government of weaponising law enforcement to suppress dissent.
In January, Sowore was detained for referring to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as “illegal IGP” on social media — an incident that led to 17 counts of alleged cybercrime offenses filed against him.
Rights groups, including SERAP, warn that the recurring arrests of activists and journalists reflect a troubling erosion of civic freedoms under the current administration.
“Peaceful protest is not a crime,” SERAP said. “The continued persecution of citizens for expressing dissenting views undermines democracy and erodes public trust in government institutions.”