The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised Omoyele Sowore‘s “repeated arrest and prolonged detention” as an activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters.
Sowore came to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to accept an invitation from the IGP monitoring unit in response to a petition.
However, he was apprehended and remained in arrest as of Wednesday.
On Thursday, the former presidential contender accused police of breaking his arm while detained.
In a statement, NLC president Joe Ajaero said allegations that Sowore was injured during his last detention make the situation much more concerning.
Ajaero stated that if Sowore had insulted a political figure or broken the law, the authorities should take the matter to court rather than resorting to harassment.
The Labour leader wondered how many times Sowore had been detained this year.
He reminded the government that free expression and association are vital rights protected by the constitution and must be upheld 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 defined Sowore as a “moral compass” whose care should be treated seriously, regardless of personal feelings towards him.
The president of the NLC urged Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, a halt to the persecution of activists, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
Ajaero also urged full observance with constitutional guarantees of free expression and peaceful assembly.
Sowore has been at odds with police leadership in recent months, following his criticism of IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure extension and the terrible treatment of retired officers.
