Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and several other citizens who were reportedly detained during peaceful protests in different parts of the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Atiku said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the arrests, describing them as a blatant attack on democratic rights and a sign of growing intolerance under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I am shocked and disappointed, but not surprised. Shocked that in 2025, decades after we defeated military rule, this government still treats dissent as a crime,” the former Vice President said.
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Atiku described the arrest of Sowore inside a courtroom as “a new low, an open assault on democracy and a grave symbol of this administration’s contempt for the rule of law.”
He added that the detention of other peaceful protesters across the country “only deepens the stain,” insisting that protest is a constitutional right, not a crime.
The former Vice President demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore and all those arrested during or after the protest, calling on the government to end what he termed the “persistent harassment of dissenting voices.”
“Democracy cannot coexist with tyranny,” Atiku warned.
