▪︎Shop for magistrate to do alleged bidding
The Nigerian police authorities have concluded plans to illegally detain human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, till Monday, accirding to SaharaReporters.
Sowore was arrested in Abuja, the nation’s capital, alongside other activists as they were carrying out a peaceful procession to mark the New Year.
The activists were almost done with their crossover procession when about seven vans loaded with Nigerian security men arrived at the location. The security brutalised everyone in sight.
They were taken to Abattoir Police Station, formerly used by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Abuja, where they are allegedly being tortured and detained.
Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 election, was, according to a report by Sahara Reporters, severely injured by the policemen who arrested him.
SaharaReporters gathered that 18 hours after the assault and arrest of the peaceful protesters, the police authorities had yet to take their statements or charge them with any offence.
It was however learnt that the police authorities had concluded plans to detain the activists till Monday as they shop for a Magistrate, allegedly, to do their bidding.
“What they are currently doing (sic) is to detain them till Monday and look for a Magistrate who will grant them a detention order to detain the activists, especially Sowore for 45 or 90 days,” a source said.
Though peaceful protests are legal in Nigeria, security agencies controlled by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government are known for disrupting protests and attacking peaceful protesters.
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