Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore was arrested by armed police officers Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, shortly after appearing in solidarity with detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The arrest comes days after Sowore led a Monday protest in the capital demanding Kanu’s release from detention. According to Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, the activist was taken into custody to ensure equal application of justice for all individuals involved in the demonstration.
“If we move from there to charge some people to court and leave the person who led them to commit that act, more like their leader, the elite protester who told them and took them into the restricted area, that would not be fair,” Hundeyin told journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
The police spokesman indicated that Sowore allegedly led protesters into a restricted area in violation of a court order. He assured that the activist would not be detained beyond legal limits and would be arraigned within 24 hours.
Mass Arrests Follow Monday Demonstration
During the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, twelve individuals were arrested, including Kanu’s younger brother Emmanuel and one of his lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor. The group was subsequently remanded at Kuje prison.
In a First Information Report filed before a Chief Magistrate Court at Kuje, police alleged that the defendants disobeyed a court order, chanted war songs, and disrupted traffic flow. The charges include criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and disturbing public peace under sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code Law.
The formal charge states that on October 20, 2025, the twelve defendants were arrested at different locations within the Federal Capital Territory 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.”
Sowore Questions Arrest Procedure
At the time of his arrest, Sowore questioned the absence of a formal letter of invitation and insisted that his lawyer accompany him. Despite his objections, he was taken away in a police van after officers explained they were executing an order from the Commissioner of Police.
Sowore, publisher of the online news platform Sahara Reporters, has been at the forefront of campaigns calling for Kanu’s release and was among the key organizers of protests that took place in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.
The charges allege that the protest activities threatened national security while Kanu undergoes lawful trial at the Federal High Court.
