Nigeria, Aug. 7 -- Amnesty International and some Nigerian lawyers have condemned the detention of Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, describing it as unlawful and politically motivated.

Mr Sowore, a former presidential candidate, was detained on Wednesday after honouring a police invitation by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja. The invitation followed allegations of forgery and criminal defamation.

The police have yet to provide details of the allegations despite Mr Sowore's request before honouring the invitation. But they appeared to have dropped an incitement allegation contained in the initial invitation letter that was withdrawn and reissued...