- Ajaero warned that arbitrary arrests endanger journalists, activists, and citizens, eroding trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.
- The NLC also called for unconditional release of Sowore and an end to intimidation of dissenting voices nationwide.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed strong disapproval over what it called the continuous arrest and prolonged detention of activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore had visited the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja on Wednesday following an invitation from the inspector-general of police’s monitoring unit concerning a petition.
Rather than being allowed to leave after the meeting, he was taken into custody and, by that evening, remained in detention.
The following day, the activist alleged that officers fractured his arm while he was being held.
NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said reports that Sowore sustained injuries during this latest arrest made the situation even more worrisome.
He argued that if the activist had broken any law or wronged a political figure, the proper step would be to take the matter to court instead of resorting to harassment.
Ajaero also queried how many times Sowore had been picked up by the authorities since the beginning of the year.
He emphasised that freedom of speech and association are constitutional rights that must not be undermined under any circumstances.
“The NLC warns that silence in the face of such repression is complicity. If the state can arbitrarily detain Sowore today, no journalist, no trade unionist, no activist, and no ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow,” he said.
According to him, the country must not drift back to an era where fear replaced freedom and dissent was met with force.
He cautioned that such conduct tarnishes the government’s image both at home and abroad and portrays it as operating above the law.
Ajaero said the labour movement had a duty to highlight the risks of violating these rights and to warn of the consequences.
He stressed that the government must be law-abiding at all times, not just when it benefits its interests.
Describing Sowore as a “moral compass,” Ajaero said his treatment should be taken seriously regardless of personal views about him.
He demanded the activist’s immediate and unconditional release, an end to the harassment of campaigners, and strict observance of the rule of law.
The NLC president also called for respect for constitutional guarantees on free speech and peaceful assembly.
Sowore has clashed with police authorities in recent months after criticising the extension of the inspector-general of police’s tenure and the poor welfare of retired officers.
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