Niger Delta group tells FG to release Sowore, others

Omoyele Sowore: arrested by DSS operatives


Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has called for the immediate release of Convener of ‘Revolution Now’ movement, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and other Nigerians arrested in course of peacefully demonstrating their disaffection at the state of affairs of the nation.

The group also criticised the government for cracking down on the Nigerian activists for voicing out their disaffection with the state of affairs in the nation.

According to a statement by group’s National Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, said rather than the militaristic approach to the complaints of the people, the federal government should address the issues they have raised.

The statement reads in part, “PANDEF calls for the immediate release of Mr. Omoyele Sowore and all those Nigerians who may have been arrested in course of peacefully demonstrating their disaffection at the state of affairs of the nation.

“The Federal Government ought to note the issues highlighted by the RevolutionNow protestations and take needed actions to address the hardship in the country, rather than cracking down on citizens for exercising their rights to speech, association, and assembly.

“The PANDEF strongly condemns the arrest of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, by the Department of State Service (DSS) for his active role in the planned nationwide march to demand for decisive actions, from the government, on the nation’s security, economic, educational and healthcare challenges.

“PANDEF equally condemns actions of the Nigerian Police Force for describing the planned protests as treasonable felony and acts of terrorism. If we may ask, how can protest against insecurity, suffering and hardship in the country occasioned by misrule, amount to treasonable felony?

“Meanwhile, those who are actually threatening the unity and stability of the country by killing and maiming innocent Nigerians daily, are freely moving around in the country.

“It is disconcerting that the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is increasingly becoming intolerant of criticism and contrary opinions, and undemocratic in its actions.