Nigeria Labour Congress Condemns Arrest of Omoyele Sowore, Demands Immediate Release
NLC calls Sowore’s arrest a dangerous pattern of repression and warns against abuse of state power.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday strongly condemned the arrest of prominent civil rights activist Omoyele Sowore, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of harassment and repression by the state.
In a statement released by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Congress demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release. The NLC also warned against the ongoing abuse of state power and called for respect for citizens’ constitutional rights.
“If Sowore has offended any government official or the law, they should pursue legal avenues such as the courts rather than resort to repeated arrests and harassment. How many times has Sowore been detained this year alone?” the statement questioned.
Ajaero emphasized the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms, saying, “Freedom of speech and freedom of association are inalienable rights guaranteed by our constitution. The government must respect these rights.”
The NLC cautioned that silence in the face of such repression equates to complicity. “If the state can arbitrarily detain Sowore today, no journalist, trade unionist, activist, or ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow. Nigeria must not slide back into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaces freedom and dissent is crushed by brute force.”
Highlighting the damage such actions cause to Nigeria’s image, Ajaero stated, “It soils the government’s reputation nationally and internationally when it behaves as if it is above the law.”
He described Sowore as a moral compass whose treatment should not be taken lightly. The NLC thus demands:
- Immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore
- An end to harassment and intimidation of activists and dissenting voices
- Full adherence to the rule of law and constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly
The Congress reiterated its solidarity with all victims of repression and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of workers and the oppressed.
“Nigeria should not become a police state. A stronger justice system and democracy benefit everyone,” the statement concluded.
