Omoyele Sowore
Former presidential candidate, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has been reportedly arrested by armed policemen at the complex of the Federal High Court, Abuja, shortly after he made appearance for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The activist, who led the protest for the release of Kanu from detention, was ambushed by security operatives who insisted that he must follow them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command.
When asked about his offence, one of the officers was said to have explained that they were executing an order from the commissioner of police.
“The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer added.
Even though he queried the absence of a letter of invitation to him, Sowore, who maintained that his lawyer must accompany him, was taken away in a police van.
The activist and publisher of online news platform, Sahara Reporters, was among the organisers of the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest that rocked Abuja and other parts of the country last Monday.
In the course of the protest, 12 persons, including Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel, and one of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor, were arrested and subsequently remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja.
Police, in the First Information Report filed before a chief magistrate’s court in Kuje, alleged that the defendants, during the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, which it said was held in disobedience of a court order, chanted war songs while disrupting the free flow of traffic.
It alleged that they engaged in criminal conspiracy, incited disturbance and disturbed public peace, offences punishable under sections 152, 114 and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
“That on 20th day of October, 2025, you (1). Barrister Aloy Ejimakor (2). Prince Emmanuel Kanu, (3). Joshua Emmanuel, (4). Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5). Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6). Clinton Chimeneze, (7). Gabriel Joshua, (8). Isiaka Husseini, (9). Onyekachi Ferdinand. (10). Amadi Prince (11). Edison Ojisom and (12). Godwill Obiama, all male adults of FCT, Abuja, were arrested by a team of security agents in different locations within FCT while involving yourselves in inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security. You thereby committed the above-mentioned offences.”
Meanwhile, the police have explained why they arrested Sowore, saying he was picked for luring protesters into a restricted area to protest, in contravention of an order of a court.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO),CSP Benjamin Hundeyin made the revelation during a media conference in Abuja, yesterday.
“From the statements, every one of the 13 people arrested,mentioned that Sowore led them into the restricted area in contravention of the court order.
“So it would be most unfair to charge some people to court and leave the person that led them to commit the offence.
“And that’s why, in the spirit of fair play, and to ensure that justice is served, Sowore was arrested today,” he said.
According to Hundeyin,like the others too, Sowore would not spend up to 24 hours with the police because we will arraign him as soon as we wrap up his charges.
“In fact, if everything goes right, our plan is to ensure that he’s arraigned today,” he said.
Hundeyin said 13 suspects had earlier been arrested in connection with the protest for violating an order of a court, restricting protest in some areas in Abuja.
He said eight of the suspects were arrested on Monday around the Transcorp area of Abuja, while five others were arrested around the Ministry of Finance.
According to him, they were arrested because they contravened the court order that restricted movements within those areas despite several warnings.
He said the suspects were arraigned in court within 24 hours.
