Why we arrested Sowore—Police

The Police Force Headquarters in Abuja have given reasons as to why it arrested former presidential candidate, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore.

The police also said it has concluded arrangements to arraign Sowore within the next 24 hours.
Sowore was arrested at a complex of the Federal High Court, FCT, shortly after he made an appearance for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyi, who made this known, said Sowore was arrested after the thirteen suspects arrested for protesting over the continuous detention of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in Abuja on Monday, implicated him in their statement.

Hundeyi said that the suspects, who have since been arraigned and remanded in prison custody, named Sowore in their statement as the one who led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order over the protest.

The Force Public Relations Officer, while answering journalists’ questions at a media briefing on the parade of suspects in Abuja, said, “You may ask why he was arrested. The reason is straightforward.

The thirteen people previously arrested all gave their statements, and one thing was consistent in all of them, each person mentioned that one Omoyele Sowore led them into the restricted area, in clear contravention of the court order.

“It would therefore be unfair to charge those people to court and leave out the person who led them—their leader, the lead protester—who guided them into the restricted area.
“In the spirit of fairness and to ensure that justice is served, Omoyele Sowore was arrested today.
“Like the others, he will not spend much time with us.

He will not be in custody for up to 24 hours. He will not be in custody for up to 24 hours. Once we conclude the charges, he will be prosecuted. In fact, if all goes as planned, he will be arraigned in court today.