Nigerian security forces seized Omoyele Sowore near the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja where Nnamdi Kanu’s trial is to take place.
Officers of the Dept of State Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Monday beat the Sahara Reporters Publisher, a Lagos-based lawyer Inibehe Effiong said in a tweet.
Effiong added that the camera of the human rights activist was also confiscated.
The lawyer said: “@YeleSowore has just been beaten up and arrested by SSS and Nigeria Police officers far away from the entrance of the Federal High Court in Abuja where he went to cover and monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. They also seized his camera.
“Nigeria is under a full dictatorship. Buhari has murdered democracy. We demand his immediate release. It is not a crime for a citizen and a reporter to stand in a public place.”
Nigeria is under a full dictatorship. Buhari has murdered democracy. We demand his immediate release. It is not a crime for a citizen and a reporter to stand in a public place.
— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) July 26, 2021
Sowore also confirmed the arrest without giving details.
Just Arrested by @PoliceNG at the Federal High Court in Abuja!
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 26, 2021
#FreeNnamdiKanuNow: Tomorrow, You’re cordially invited to the Federal High Court in Abuja to witness the farcical trial of @MaziNnamdiKanu who was recently kidnapped from Kenya by Nigeria’s terrorist-in-chief, Muhammadu Buhari. See U there at 9am Nigerian Time! pic.twitter.com/wjHbciiLs1
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 25, 2021
On Sunday, he had invited concerned citizens to the trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who was arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria in June.
“#FreeNnamdiKanuNow: Tomorrow, You’re cordially invited to the Federal High Court in Abuja to witness the farcical trial of @MaziNnamdiKanu who was recently kidnapped from Kenya by Nigeria’s terrorist-in-chief, Muhammadu Buhari. See U there at 9 am Nigerian Time!” Sowore said.
Kanu, 53, who seeks the independent Republic of Biafra, is facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
The leader of the proscribed secessionist group, who also holds British citizenship, had disappeared while on bail in 2017.
His trial continues.