Amnesty International has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to as a matter of urgency release publisher and activist, Omoyele Sowore.
The international organisation made the call to the IGP on Wednesday following the detention of Sowore by the police over allegations of “forgery and inciting disturbance.”
Recall that the Sowore honoured the IGP’s invitation on Wednesday but was detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The activist and former presidential candidate was at the Force Headquarters alongside several of his supporters.
Reacting to his detention, AI described it as arbitrary while demanding his immediate release.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation said Sowore’s arrest and detention upon honouring the IGP’s invitation is the latest in a series of ongoing harassments and intimidations by the Police.
It also described the allegations against the activist as bogus and politically motivated.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Sowore and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him. The authorities should listen to critics instead of seeking to gag them through outright abuse of power.
“Nigerian authorities must allow Sowore to freely exercise his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Apart from putting him through sham trials based on bogus charges, Sowore has been subjected to a series of human rights violations,” AI said.