Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after spending four days in detention.
Sowore announced his release on Monday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, where he expressed relief and condemned what he described as an “illegal detention” by the Nigerian authorities.
“Leaving Kuje Prison in Abuja after being detained there illegally for four days by @officialABAT’s illegal IGP, Kayode Egbetokun. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow,” he wrote.
The activist was arrested on October 23 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had gone to meet the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, during one of his court appearances.
According to eyewitnesses, Sowore’s arrest followed a protest tagged #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, which was reportedly dispersed by police officers using tear gas and gunfire to scatter demonstrators demanding Kanu’s unconditional release.
He was later arraigned alongside Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel Kanu, and Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.
The trio faced charges of unlawful assembly and public disturbance.
On October 24, the Kuje Magistrate Court, presided over by Abubakar Umar Sai’I’d, granted them bail in the sum of ₦500,000 each.
The court also demanded that each defendant provide their National Identification Number, a three-year tax clearance certificate, and an international passport as part of the bail conditions.
Confirming his release, Sowore reiterated his commitment to advocating for human rights and justice in Nigeria.
Sowore’s detention sparked widespread criticism from civil rights groups and supporters, who described the arrest as another attempt to intimidate voices critical of the government.
His release brings to an end a four-day detention that began after the protest and his subsequent arrest at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
