Detained Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has commenced hunger strike in police detention.

The Publisher of Sahara Reporters who was arrested on new year eve was reported to have rejected all the foods and clothes taken to him by his family.

Family sources said the action was due to the refusal by the police to allow the activist access to his books.

The police had refused to allow him receive some of his books brought to him by his family.

Sowore had asked one of his brothers to bring his books for him to read and refresh his mind but he was prevented from taking the books inside.

The action compelled the activist to reject the foods, clothes and other items that were brought for him.

He vowed not to eat any of the foods unless the police allowed him to have access to his books.

“I cannot feed my stomach when I haven’t fed my brain”, he said.

Also his colleagues, who were arrested alongside him, have joined in the hunger strike.

Sowore and the others were arrested while embarking on a procession to enter the new year at Gudu District in the country’s federal capital, Abuja.

The activist who is the Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement was earlier arrested on August 3, 2019 ahead of August 5 planned protest by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic secret police.

He was detained for 144 days despite different court orders for his release.

He was subsequently arraigned for treason but had pleaded not guilty. The activist cum journalist was granted bail in November 2020, but part of the conditions restricts him to Abuja.