Sowore’s Supporters Demand His Release As They Protest In Abuja And Lagos [Photos]

Protesters on Friday gathered at the Force Headquarters in Abuja and at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, demanding the immediate release of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

Many of the demonstrators, dressed in black and waving the Nigerian flag, sang anti-government songs while calling on police authorities to free Omoyele Sowore.

The protesters denied police claims that they blocked roads, accusing an unnamed Assistant Commissioner of Police of trying to intimidate them.

“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.”

[irp]

In Lagos, the protest started around 10:00 a.m., with participants vowing to continue gathering until Sowore is released.

As of the time of the protest, no police official had addressed the crowd there.

Sowore had gone to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to honour a police summons over allegations of “forgery and inciting disturbance,” which the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit is investigating.

However, reports say he was detained on Thursday and has not been released.

[irp]

See some photos below:

Omoyele Sowore’s arrest has drawn widespread criticism across the country, particularly after police allegedly broke his hand while trying to forcibly move him from detention to court.

[irp]