Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the police for arresting Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, along with several peaceful protesters.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, Sowore was arrested for leading protesters into a restricted area, which they said went against a court order.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, explained this during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Atiku said he was disappointed by the arrest, reminding the government that those in power today once benefited from protests themselves.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku said he was “shocked and disappointed” that in 2025, long after Nigeria ended military rule, the government still treats peaceful protest as a crime.
He condemned Sowore’s arrest, especially since it happened inside a courtroom, calling it “a new low” and “an attack on democracy”.
Atiku added:
“Protest is not a crime; it is a constitutional right. I demand the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore and all others arrested during or after the protest.
The government must stop harassing people who express their views. Democracy cannot exist alongside tyranny.”
He urged the Tinubu administration to respect citizens’ rights and uphold the rule of law.