NLC Seeks Sowore’s Release From Police Detention
Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Friday, August 8th, 2025
(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has frowned at the “repeated arrest and prolonged detention” of activist Omoyele Sowore.
It is worth recalling that on Wednesday, Sowore was in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters in Abuja because he was invited by the inspector-general of police (IGP) monitoring unit, following a petition.
However, the activist was taken into custody and kept in detention as of Wednesday and on Thursday, the former presidential candidate alleged that the police broke his arm in detention.
Reacting, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, in a statement, stated that reports alleging Sowore was injured in his latest arrest make the development disturbing.
Ajaero stated that if Sowore had violated any law, the police should take the matter to court instead of harassing Sowore.
The labour leader was perplexed by the number of times Sowore had been arrested this year and reminded the government that freedom of speech and freedom of association are inalienable human rights guaranteed by the constitution, which must be respected 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.
“The government, like all other citizens, should be law-abiding at all times, not only when it suits them.”
According to Ajaero, Sowore is a “moral compass” whose treatment should not be taken lightly, no matter the personal opinions about him.
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