- Protests have erupted in several states
- Sowore was detained for refusing to give a statement
- The police offered to let some protesters see Sowore in custody
Protests have broken out in several cities across Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos, Osun, and Oyo states, as activists and citizens demand the unconditional release of human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
EkoHotBlog reports that the Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, detailed the reasons for the activist’s detention.
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According to Shogunle, the detention was a necessary part of the police’s standard procedure after Sowore’s refusal to cooperate with the interrogation, which was based on two petitions filed against him.
This occurred even though Sowore had voluntarily reported to the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Providing further details, the CP disclosed that the petitions against Sowore concern serious allegations, including the forging of a police document that he published online and cyberbullying. Shogunle confirmed that Sowore was shown the petitions in the presence of his legal team but still chose not to provide a statement.
The CP was quick to add that while Sowore has the constitutional right to remain silent, the police have a professional duty to follow specific legal procedures when a suspect declines to cooperate with an ongoing investigation.
Ultimately, the police sought to reassure the public that they were acting professionally and within legal provisions. In a show of transparency, the CP even offered to take some of the protesters to see Sowore, aiming to counter any public perception that he was being mistreated or brutalized in police custody.
This gesture was intended to calm rising tensions and demonstrate that the police’s actions were procedural and not a form of harassment.
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