NLC demands release of Sowore, says detaining activists soils Nigeria’s reputation

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the “repeated arrest and prolonged detention” of Omoyele Sowore, an activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters.

On Wednesday, Sowore arrived at the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters in Abuja to honour an invitation from the inspector-general of police (IGP) monitoring unit, following a petition.

However, he was taken into custody and remained in detention as of Wednesday.

On Thursday, the former presidential candidate accused the police of breaking his arm in detention.

In a statement, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, said reports alleging that Sowore sustained injuries during his latest arrest makes the development even more alarming.

Ajaero said if Sowore had offended any political figure or violated the law, the authorities should take the matter to court rather than resort to harassment.

The labour leader wondered how many times Sowore had been arrested this year.

He reminded the government that freedom of speech and freedom of association are fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, which must be respected at all times.

“The NLC warns that silence in the face of such repression is complicity. If the state can arbitrarily detain Sowore today, no journalist, no trade unionist, no activist, and no ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow,” the statement reads.

“We cannot allow Nigeria to slide back into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaces freedom and dissent is met with brute force.

“Such behaviour soils the government’s image before its citizens and the international community when it acts in a way that suggests it is above the law.

“We are duty-bound not only to alert the nation to the inherent dangers of the government breaching these rights but also to point out the consequences of such breaches.

“Government, like all other citizens, should be law-abiding at all times, not only when it suits them.”

Ajaero described Sowore as a “moral compass” whose treatment should not be taken lightly, regardless of personal opinions about him.

The NLC president demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, an end to the harassment of activists, and strict adherence to the rule of law.

Ajaero also called for full compliance with constitutional guarantees of free speech and peaceful assembly.

Sowore has been at loggerheads with police authorities in recent months, following his criticism of the tenure extension of IGP Kayode Egbetokun and poor welfare of retired police officers.