NEWARK—Dozens of supporters—including a busload of Haworth residents—rallied Nov. 26 in Newark for the release and safe return of Omoyele Sowore, a Haworth resident and well-respected journalist imprisoned in Nigeria for reporting on government corruption.
About 50 supporters tied yellow ribbons around two trees outside the Newark offices of U.S. Sens. Robert Menedez and Cory Booker to show support for Sowore’s release and return.
Aides to both senators expressed strong support for Sowore’s release. During the rally, national television networks interviewed Sowore’s wife, Opeyemi, who relayed details of his unlawful detainment.
Sowore, founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news site which reports on Nigeria, was imprisoned while in Nigeria Aug. 3 by authorities for allegedly reporting on government corruption.
A Dec. 5 trial date was set by Nigerian authorities. Charges alleged against Sowore include organizing a protest, insulting the Nigerian president, and transferring U.S. money to a Nigerian account.
Opeyemi and her two children are United States citizens, having been born here and her husband, Omoyele, is a permanent U.S. resident.
‘Hope and pray’
“Yele will not be in New Jersey this year with me and the kids to celebrate Thanksgiving. We continue to hope and pray for his safe return home,” said Opeyemi Sowore in an email to Northern Valley Press before the rally.
Sowore said she has spoken to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Embassy in Nigeria “and they are monitoring my husband’s case,” she said.
He remains detained by Nigeria’s Department of Secret Services despite two court orders to release him and international calls from more than 50 human-rights and press freedom organizations to release Sowore, say his supporters.
The Nov. 26 rally outside the Newark offices of New Jersey’s two U.S. Sens. Booker and Menendez, marked 116 days of detainment for Sowore.
‘Crackdown’ on free speech
Supporters said Sowore is one of several journalists now detained by the Nigerian government for reporting on widespread corruption and human rights violations. Many international organizations “have expressed concern against the Nigerian government’s crackdown on free speech and the illegal detention of journalists,” said Alanna Zahn Davis, a neighbor, friend and organizer of the Nov. 26 rally.
Recently, the Clooney Foundation for Justice expressed support for Sowore’s release, with Co-President Amal Clooney calling it “outrageous that Nigeria continues to imprison a journalist and Presidential candidate after a court has ordered his release.”
Previously, Amnesty International declared Sowore a prisoner of conscience, and said the Nigerian government’s charges were “a misuse of the criminal system to silence critics and opposition.”
“We wanted to be there as a group rallying outside for the public to see and know what’s going on with Sowore,” said Davis on Nov. 26.
She said both Democratic senators have called for Sowore’s release from Nigeria.
“Yele Sowore was abducted by Nigeria’s Department of State Security Services (DSS) on August 3, 2019 shortly after scheduling a peaceful protest calling for the Nigerian government to end wholesale corruption, institute minimum wages and guarantee education,” said Davis, elaborating on Sowore’s situation.
Sowore was visiting Nigeria when he was arrested.
“His trip back to Nigeria was the first since Sahara Reporters [Sowore’s news website] published an investigation that revealed a loss of about $1.4 billion in U.S. dollars by Nigeria’s Central Bank in a failed private investment scheme,” said Davis, providing details on Sowore’s work prior to his arrest.
‘Love and support’
“I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received. I am encouraged by the chorus of voices from human rights organizations, our community here in New Jersey, and friends and journalists from around the world who are shining a bright light on basic human rights violations against my husband and other journalists in Nigeria. You are all helping to hold the Nigerian government accountable for their actions,” said Opeyemi Sowore, before the rally.
She urged individuals concerned with human-rights and press freedom to contact state and federal representatives and support her husband’s release.
In addition, information on Sowore’s case is available at www.sowore-verified.com.
Community support
Only a few weeks ago on Oct. 28, nearly 200 Haworth residents showed support for the imprisoned journalist’s release with a community vigil in Haworth, tying yellow ribbons around a tree to mark each day of his jailing and to call for his release.
The ‘Tie a Yele Ribbon’ vigil—so named for Omoyele’s nickname Yele—was attended by local public officials and raised awareness of the detained journalist’s treatment by Nigerian authorities.
Residents showed support with prayers as scores tied “yele ribbons” around a tree opposite the borough’s public library on Haworth Avenue.