The Nigeria Police Force has explained why its Federal Capital Territory Command arrested human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Sowore was taken into custody for allegedly leading protesters into a restricted area in Abuja, in defiance of a subsisting court order.
Hundeyin, who addressed journalists during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said the activist would be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
“Today, Omoyele Sowore has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force. You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward.
“The 13 people previously arrested all mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order,” Hundeyin explained.
He added that it would be unjust to prosecute those earlier arrested while leaving out the person alleged to have led them.
According to him, eight persons were initially arrested on Monday in the Transcorp area of Abuja, while five others were arrested around the Ministry of Finance, bringing the total number of suspects to 13.
“They were arraigned the very next day and did not spend up to 24 hours in our custody,” Hundeyin said, adding that Sowore would also be arraigned soon.
The police spokesman stressed that the protest breached the earlier restriction order issued to maintain public order in parts of the capital.
The Guardian reported that Sowore was on Monday part of the #FreeNnamdiKanu campaign pressing for Kanu’s release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where he has been held since June 2021.
The protest, which began around the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama, at about 7:00 a.m., turned chaotic when security personnel opened fire and deployed teargas to disperse the demonstrators.
Protesters regrouped near Utako Market, but the police and soldiers followed with more rounds of teargas and gunfire into the air, forcing traders and passersby to flee.
Shops, offices and business outlets in the area were hurriedly shut down as the air filled with teargas. Some traders sustained minor injuries while attempting to escape.
Security operatives, including soldiers, police and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, mounted barricades at major roads, restricting access to the Three Arms Zone, which houses the Presidency, National Assembly and Supreme Court.
Police authorities, however, defended their action, citing a subsisting Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations around sensitive government buildings, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
Police authorities, however, defended their action, citing a subsisting Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations around sensitive government buildings, including the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
He dismissed claims that the police blocked major roads, explaining that officers only cleared routes earlier obstructed by the demonstrators to ensure free movement for other citizens.
Hundeyin said eight people were arrested, including Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer, for insisting on entering the restricted zone despite repeated warnings.
The police spokesman stressed that the protest breached the earlier restriction order issued to maintain public order in parts of the capital.
