Police Justify Arrest of Sowore During 'Free Nnamdi Kanu' Protest

In a move that sparked immediate controversy, the Nigerian Police Force recently arrested activist and politician Omoyele Sowore during a protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The police have since offered a detailed justification for their actions, which centered on maintaining public order and respecting judicial restrictions.

The Nigerian Police Force stated that the arrest was necessary because the demonstration, tagged the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, allegedly violated an existing court order and posed a risk to critical government infrastructure in Abuja.

The police claimed that a court order was in place that restricted the protest to certain areas to prevent a breakdown of law and order. According to police sources, the demonstrators led by Sowore attempted to breach these restrictions and access sensitive government zones.

Officials cited the need to safeguard key government buildings and national assets. They argued that the protest's planned routes and actions created a security risk that they were legally obliged to neutralize.

The police maintained that their primary objective was to prevent the protest from escalating into violence or causing a major disruption to the city's peace and essential services.

This incident has once again ignited a national conversation about the delicate balance between the right to protest and the government's mandate to ensure public safety and order in Nigeria.