ABUJA, Nigeria (ABSTV) — Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore declared he remains “unbroken” after regaining his freedom following nine days in detention at Kuje Correctional Centre, where he said he was held with more than 1,100 inmates under harsh conditions.
Sowore was released on bail after a Federal High Court in Abuja granted his freedom, days after Justice M.G. Umar revoked his earlier bail. The activist described his detention as unjust and politically motivated, arguing that no Nigerian should be imprisoned “for an offence unknown to law or for exercising constitutionally protected rights.”
In a statement issued after his release, Sowore said he shared prison facilities with 1,158 inmates, including 37 prisoners receiving treatment for tuberculosis in overcrowded cells. He used the experience to renew his criticism of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and prison conditions.
“Prison is not new to me,” Sowore said, noting that his long history of political activism has exposed him repeatedly to detention. “But the truth remains that no one should spend even a minute behind bars for exercising constitutionally protected rights.”
The publisher of Sahara Reporters traced what he described as decades of state persecution to his university days during Nigeria’s military era, when he participated in pro-democracy campaigns. While acknowledging the end of military rule in 1999, Sowore argued that successive civilian governments have continued to suppress dissent through what he described as human rights abuses and the weakening of democratic institutions.
He specifically criticized the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing the agencies of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and other human rights violations. Nigerian authorities have previously defended the actions of security agencies as lawful and necessary to maintain public order.
Despite the legal challenges he continues to face, Sowore struck a defiant tone, insisting his resolve has not diminished.
“I am back, and I remain unbroken,” he said.
He also thanked supporters across Nigeria and abroad who organized protests and public campaigns demanding his release, saying their solidarity played a significant role in securing his freedom.
Although Sowore acknowledged that his release comes with stringent bail conditions, he said his commitment to political activism remains unchanged, signaling that he intends to continue advocating for democratic reforms and accountability in Nigeria.
The latest episode adds to a series of legal confrontations between Sowore and Nigerian authorities, reinforcing his status as one of the country’s most prominent and outspoken government critics.
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