Sowore Alleges He Was Held With 37 Tuberculosis Patients During Kuje Detention

Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has recounted his experience at the Kuje Correctional Centre, saying he was detained alongside more than 1,158 inmates, including 37 prisoners undergoing treatment for tuberculosis.

Sowore made the disclosure in a statement issued on Wednesday, a day after the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail in the criminal case instituted against him.

Justice Mohammed Umar had admitted the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate to bail in the sum of N200 million, with two sureties. The court directed that one surety must be a traditional ruler from Sowore’s community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja.

Reflecting on his time in custody, Sowore described the correctional facility as severely overcrowded and argued that no citizen should be imprisoned for exercising constitutionally protected freedoms.

“I was incarcerated alongside more than 1,158 inmates, including 37 undergoing treatment for tuberculosis,” he said.

Although he noted that imprisonment was not a new experience for him, the activist maintained that detention for alleged offences unknown to law or for exercising fundamental rights was unacceptable.

“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,” Sowore stated.

The activist also criticised successive Nigerian governments, accusing them of consistently targeting him since his university days.

According to him, various administrations have relied on security agencies to suppress dissent through alleged violations of human rights and democratic principles.

He specifically accused the Nigeria Police Force of a history of extrajudicial killings, while alleging that the Department of State Services (DSS) has been responsible for arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions and other rights abuses.

Sowore thanked Nigerians and supporters across the world for standing by him throughout his detention and pledged to continue his activism despite the legal proceedings against him.

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

The activist was released after meeting the court’s bail conditions following his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his case.