Renowned activist, journalist, and founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from the custody of the Nigeria Police Force after days of detention that sparked widespread outrage among civic groups, human rights advocates, and citizens both at home and abroad.
Sowore, who also leads the #RevolutionNow movement, was arrested on Thursday by operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit and allegedly brutalised during the operation, resulting in a fractured arm.
He was held without formal charges and denied access to his legal team throughout his incarceration, a situation critics described as a blatant violation of due process and human rights.
Public pressure mounted in the days following his arrest, with coordinated calls for his release from legal advocacy groups, pro-democracy movements, and diaspora activists.
Social media campaigns trended under the #RevolutionNow hashtag, while street protests and petitions amplified demands for his freedom.
Confirming his release late Thursday night, Sowore took to social media to announce that the police had “capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement.”
He described his detention as “unjust, illegal, and unwarranted,” warning that his ordeal was a symptom of deep-rooted impunity within Nigeria’s law enforcement system.
“However, this is not a victory to be celebrated with fanfare,” Sowore said. “It is a reminder that when we stand together and refuse to bow, even the most oppressive institutions are forced to bend or break. The struggle continues, fiercer and more focused than ever, until we win.”
The activist expressed gratitude to his lawyers, grassroots organisers, and supporters worldwide who kept the pressure on authorities, stating that their “unwavering solidarity made this outcome inevitable.”
Human rights observers say the incident has once again brought to the fore Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with police accountability, suppression of dissent, and the shrinking civic space under the current political climate.
Sowore, who has faced multiple arrests and legal battles in recent years over his activism, insists that his release is not the end of the fight but rather renewed fuel for his pro-democracy campaign.
“The resistance is not futile,” he declared. “It works. And we will keep pushing — until the dream of a free, just, and democratic Nigeria becomes reality.”
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