Miscreants Assault Deji Adeyanju, Other Activists over Free-Sowore Protest

Olawale Ajimotokan Enumah

Alex

Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, and some members of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) seeking the release of detained convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and other detainees, notably Agba Jalingo and Dadiyata, were yesterday in Abuja manhandled by suspected thugs.

Other CSO leaders injured in the attacked were Ariyo-Dare Atoye and Adebayo Raphael.

The CSOs had gathered at the front of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Maitama, Abuja, to present a letter to the chairman of the Commission when the miscreants invaded the venue and attacked the protesters.

Sowore was rearrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) on December 6, 2019, at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja over yet-to-be disclosed offences and has been in custody since then.

The hoodlums, mainly youths, beat up some of the protesters, chased them away thereby bringing to an abrupt end of the protest.

In the process of the violent attack, Adeyanju and some members of the protest sustained some injuries and had their cloths torn, while others and journalists scampered for safety into offices within the area.

However, the injured, including Adeyanju, were then rushed to an undisclosed hospital where they are receiving medical attention.

Addressing journalists shortly after the attack, the Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Musa Rasfanjani, asked the government to comply with court orders by releasing all Nigerians arrested illegally.

He lamented that many had been in detention for the past 15 years without trials, describing it as inhuman.