Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian police to immediately drop what it described as “bogus” and politically motivated charges against human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore. The organisation, in a statement on Wednesday, urged authorities to release him without conditions, stressing that his arrest and prosecution amount to a clampdown on free expression and peaceful assembly.
The rights group recalled that Sowore was declared a Prisoner of Conscience in 2019 after his prolonged detention and repeated court cases over his activism. It condemned the continued harassment of the activist, accusing the government of using the justice system to silence critics and shrink civic space.
Amnesty International warned that the persistent targeting of dissenting voices poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law. It urged the authorities to respect human rights obligations by ending arbitrary detentions and ensuring freedom of speech for all citizens.
