SSS Officers ‘Brutalise Journalists At #FreeSowore Protest’ In Abuja

At a protest held in Abuja, demanding the release of Omoyele Sowore of Sahara Reporters by the SSS, which has kept Mr. Sowore detained despite a court-ordered bail,  journalists were brutalized by armed officers of the State Security Service.

Mr. Sowore was facing charged for treason, money laundering and defamation of President Muhammadu Buhari after he called for a nationwide revolution against bad governance and has been in detention since August 5 when he was arrested.

A federal judge had earlier signed a warrant for his release on November 6 after he met stringent bail conditions. But the SSS, Nigeria’s domestic intelligence outfit that brought the charges, has continued to flout the court order.

Shortly after the protest began, witnesses said heavily armed SSS operatives arrived in lorries to violently disperse the crowd, charging at both protesters, journalists and even passersby with rods, tear gas, and even live ammunition.

Three media houses said their journalists were amongst those brutalised when the agents unleashed terror on the protesters. Arise Television, The Guardian and Galaxy Television all confirmed attacks on their journalists.