Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has been freed from police custody after what he described as an “unjust” detention.
In a post shared on X on Friday, Sowore accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), of acting unlawfully.
He said the police “capitulated” to the demands of the revolutionary movement that had called for his release.
“I have been released from unjust, unwarranted and unlawful detention,” he wrote.
“However, it is nothing to celebrate, work tongues, but I can’t do without thanking you all for not giving up. You’ve all seen the power of unity.”
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, was taken into custody on Wednesday and remained in detention until Friday evening, when he was released.
On Thursday, Sowore accused the police of breaking his arm in detention.
Earlier on Friday, Abayomi Shogunle, the commissioner of police for the special intervention squad, said Sowore was arrested and detained after he allegedly refused to make a statement during police interrogation.
“The two petitions against Omoyele Sowore were shown to him in my presence. One concerns forgery of a police document he published online, and the other relates to cyberbullying,” Shogunle said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release.
Joe Ajaero, NLC president, described Sowore as a “moral compass” whose treatment should not be taken lightly, regardless of personal opinions about him.
