Why we arrested Sowore – Police

The police have offered reason for the arrest of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, outside the court premises on Thursday. Sowore was arrested when he visited the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The police said Sowore was taken in over Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this on Thursday while addressing journalists in Abuja.

Hundeyin said Sowore allegedly led a group of protesters into a restricted area during a demonstration calling for the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

He said the arrest was part of efforts to ensure that justice applies equally to everyone involved.

“If we go ahead to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them into that restricted area — their leader, the elite protester who directed and took them there — that would not be fair,” Hundeyin said.

He added that Sowore would not be detained beyond the time permitted by law and would be arraigned without delay.

“Like the others, he wouldn’t spend up to 24 hours with us. Once we finalise the charges, he will be prosecuted. In fact, if everything goes as planned, he will be taken to court today,” the police spokesperson said.

His lawyers, including Tope Temokun and rights advocate Deji Adeyanju, were at the FCT Police Command on Thursday to demand access to him after reports that he was being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Adeyanju later confirmed he had seen Sowore after being initially denied access

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, was arrested on Thursday morning outside the Federal High Court in Abuja while covering proceedings in a separate case.

His arrest followed a protest on Monday in which demonstrators demanded the unconditional release of Kanu, who has been held by the State Security Services (SSS) since his re-arrest in 2021 after jumping bail in 2017.

During Monday’s protest, police fired teargas to disperse the crowd and arrested 12 people, including Mr Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and his brother, Emmanuel Kanu.

Videos from the scene showed Sowore running from the protest site around the Transcorp Hilton area in Abuja before police began making arrests.