Sunday, July 19, 2026

I was put in Kuje prison with 37 inmates undergoing treatment for tuberculosis, says Sowore 

The activist appreciated Nigerians and others around the world for staying resolute.

• July 1, 2026
Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore

Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters’ publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has narrated his ordeal during his recent incarceration in Kuje correctional facility.

Mr Sowore was granted N200 million bail on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

Justice Umar, in his ruling, ordered Mr Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja.

In a statement to the Peoples Gazette on Wednesday, Mr Sowore said, “I was incarcerated alongside more than 1,158 inmates, including 37 undergoing treatment for tuberculosis.”

Describing the prison as “overcrowded,” the African Action Congress presidential candidate insisted that no one should be jailed for merely exercising their constitutionally protected rights.

“Prison is not new to me, and perhaps that explains how quickly I settle into prison life. But the truth remains that no one should spend even a minute behind bars for an offence unknown to law or for exercising constitutionally protected rights,” the activist added.

Mr Sowore further lamented how successive Nigerian governments continues to pursue him since his university days, accusing them of “violating human rights, undermining democratic institutions and eroding the dignity of Nigerians”.

He added, “These abuses were often carried out through security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, long associated with extrajudicial killings, and the Department of State Services (DSS), whose record of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and other serious human rights violations is well documented.”

The activist appreciated Nigerians and others around the world for staying resolute, vowing not to back down from his revolutionary commitment to a better Nigeria.

“I am back, and I remain unbroken. Although I have been released on bail under stringent conditions, our mission remains unchanged,” he stated.

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