Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, spent the second day in police detention on Thursday after honouring the police invitation on Wednesday.
Sowore was invited for interrogation by the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit over a petition allegedly filed against him.
The Convener of #RevolutionNow had arrived the Force headquarters, on Wednesday, carrying a travel bag containing his basic personal needs in preparation for detention.
LEADERSHIP investigation revealed that Sowore refused to write his statement on Wednesday after demanding for original memo he alleged forged from the Police.
Meanwhile, an update posted on the detained activist’s Facebook page on Thursday, wrote, “This morning at 6am, a police team led by a Chief Superintendent of Police from the IGP Monitoring unit forcibly gained entry into Omoyele Sowore’s cell at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja claiming they were taking him to court, the team of nine officers, including eight heavily armed personnel, handled Sowore roughly when he asked to see the charges and notify his lawyers, breaking his arm in the process, before taking him to another police facility.”
One anonymous supporter, purportedly within the police force alleged that Sowore was moved to an isolated cell on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has slammed authorities of the Nigerian Police Force over continued detention of Sowore.
While condemning the arrest of the human rights activist, the NLC also said it would not allow Nigeria to slide into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaced freedom.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said the police could have explored legal options instead of the continued arrest of Sowore.
Accrording to him, “We strongly condemn the frequent arrest and long spells in detention of Sowore, a renowned civil rights activist. It is all the more unacceptable if he was injured in the course of his arrest as it is being alleged.
“If Sowore has offended any big man or woman in government or has in any way offended the law, they should be bold enough to explore the legal options available such as going to court, but certainly not to resort to this level of harassment. How many times has Sowore been arrested this year alone?”.
Meanwhile, the police have not issued official statement on Sowore’s continued detention or allegation of the injury.
