Amnesty International Declares Sowore, Bakare, Jalingo Prisoners of Conscience

International human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has declared three detained Nigerian activists and journalists as prisoners of conscience.

The organisation in a statement issued yesterday announced the declaration of Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare and Agba Jalingo as prisoners of conscience.

Sowore and Bakare are being prosecuted for calling for a revolution against poor governance.

They are being detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), despite meeting their bail conditions.

Jalingo, a journalist, is being detained in Cross River State for writing an article critical of the state government.

The statement signed by Seun Bakare, said: “We consider Sowore, Jalingo and Bakare to be prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their human rights.”

According to the organisation, “The Nigerian authorities at both federal and state levels have repeatedly targeted human rights defenders, activists and journalists including by stifling dissenting voices and passing repressive legislation to restrict the civic space.”

“Omoyele Sowore, Olawale Bakare and Agba Jalingo have been in detention since August 2019 simply for expressing views critical of the government. Despite meeting the stringent bail conditions, Nigeria’s DSS has continued to refuse to obey a court order to release Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare. Agba Jalingo’s bail applications have been repeatedly and unjustifiably rejected.

“We consider Sowore, Jalingo and Bakare to be prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their human rights.”