Nigeria’s human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was allegedly assaulted by no fewer than eight police officers at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, just hours before being secretly relocated to an unknown location.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Sowore was quietly moved from the FID facility in Abuja after he honored a controversial police invitation linked to a petition said to be filed against him. The move, however, came under heavy criticism following emerging reports of police brutality and violation of legal procedures.
Sources close to the incident confirmed that the police stormed Sowore’s detention cell at about 6:00 a.m. on Thursday. The operation was reportedly led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), allegedly acting under the instruction of the IGP Monitoring Unit, directed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, with ties to the office of Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
According to the insider: “They arrived unannounced and claimed they were taking him to court, but Sowore demanded that his lawyers must be present first. When he also insisted on getting dressed properly before being moved, the officers turned violent. They assaulted him, twisting and possibly breaking his right hand in the process. He was screaming in pain as they dragged him out forcefully.”
Eyewitnesses said Sowore was visibly injured during the confrontation and denied basic rights such as access to legal representation and personal belongings.
The brutal handling of Sowore has triggered widespread outrage online, with civil society organizations, legal activists, and human rights groups condemning the Nigeria Police Force for what they describe as “state-sponsored intimidation, unlawful detention, and physical assault on a citizen.”
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Sowore was initially detained after showing up at the Force Headquarters with his lawyers, Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, around 12:16 p.m. on Wednesday. He arrived fully prepared with a travel bag containing essentials like toothpaste, clothing, books, and toiletries, indicating his anticipation of possible arrest.
Supporters from the Take It Back Movement and allied activist groups thronged the police headquarters, chanting anti-government and anti-IGP Kayode Egbetokun slogans. They later issued a two-hour ultimatum to the police, demanding Sowore’s release or threatening mass resistance.
Before his arrest, Sowore had publicly rejected the invitation, branding it “defective” and “legally incompetent.” The charge initially stated as “inciting disturbance” a term not recognized under Nigerian law was mysteriously changed to “forgery and criminal defamation” after he honored the invitation.
Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Sowore hinted at the intimidation tactics, stating that he knew the police were planning a “set-up” and warned that democracy was under siege in Nigeria.
The latest development has fueled nationwide debates on police accountability, press freedom, and the shrinking space for dissent under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Hashtags like #FreeSowore, #EndPoliceBrutality, and #StandWithSowore are now trending across social media platforms.
As the nation awaits an official statement from the Force Headquarters, pressure is mounting for the immediate release of Omoyele Sowore and a thorough investigation into the assault allegedly orchestrated by officers sworn to uphold the law.
