Protesters have gathered at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand the release of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.
Dressed mostly in black, the demonstrators waved the national flag and chanted anti-government songs, urging the police to free Sowore.
They also accused an unnamed Assistant Commissioner of Police of intimidation, while denying claims that they had blocked any roads.
“We are exercising our fundamental constitutional rights,” one of the protesters told journalists in the early hours of the day.
“We did not block any road, an Assistant Commissioner of Police is here to intimidate us. He came alongside a dog to attack us. We are here within the ambit of the law, let it be on record.”
Sowore, accompanied by his supporters, arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon to honour a police invitation.
The Nigeria Police Force, through the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, is investigating him over alleged “forgery and inciting disturbance.”
However, by Thursday, reports indicated that Sowore had been detained and was yet to regain his freedom, sparking widespread condemnation across the country.
The police also faced criticism after allegedly breaking Sowore’s hand while attempting to forcibly move him from custody to court on Thursday.