Below is a press release from the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC).
The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) sternly condemns the arrest of Omoyele Sowore by the Nigerian Police today, 23 October. This unjust arrest occurred this morning within the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja. This is a flagrant disregard for human rights. We demand the immediate release of Sowore, who is now being detained at the notorious police detention facility known as Abattoir. For us, there is no justification for this arrest, and it is a continuation of attack on the rights of citizens, something which has been intensified under the administration of President Tinubu.
We also condemn the unjust arrest of 11 protesters on Monday, October 20, 2025. These protesters were arrested in Abuja during a protest to demand freedom for Mazi Nmandi Kanu, who is currently facing political persecution. These chains of arrests have clearly shown that President Tinubu has no iota of respect for human rights and the dignity of citizens. Aside from throwing citizens into terrible economic conditions through neo-liberal policies that have wrecked the lives of many Nigerians while a few persons, especially those in the good books of the regime, continue to smile to the bank, the administration has now gone on a rampage of abusing human rights. Presently, these 11 protesters have been remanded in Kuje prison. We demand their immediate release.
This arrest of Sowore happened on a day we are laying to rest the remains of Comrade Abiodun Aremu, a socialist revolutionary, pan-Africanist and secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF), who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Ijako-sugar, Sango-Ota, Ogun State. It is a desecration of the temple of liberty and justice, which Aremson stood for. We have had enough of clampdowns on our democratic rights by the APC/Tinubu administration.
We call on the NLC and TUC not to stop folding their arms while democratic rights are being eroded. We believe the time is right for the NLC and TUC to lead a resolute resistance against the attacks on democratic rights and economic hardship, which has have become the lot of millions of citizens.
Adaramoye Michael Lenin,
National Coordinator
Francis Nwapa
National Secretary
