Omoyele Sowore has reportedly been injured during a violent encounter with Nigerian police, raising new concerns about the use of force against activists — www.naijnaira.com reports.
Amnesty International says police officers stormed his cell at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja around 6:00 a.m. and broke his right hand while trying to drag him to court.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Sowore, who previously ran for president and leads Sahara Reporters, was taken to an undisclosed location after the incident.
In a Facebook update from his team, it was revealed that officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit forcibly removed him from detention without legal counsel present.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) criticized the state for once again targeting Sowore, describing the repeated arrests as harassment dressed up as law enforcement.
CUPP also called the arrest an assault on civil liberties, arguing it violated Section 39 of the Constitution which protects freedom of speech and opinion.
“There is no justification for using the police to crush dissent,” said Chief Peter Ameh, CUPP’s National Secretary.
Ameh also questioned the rapid promotion of an officer allegedly tied to the petitions, urging a public investigation into the matter.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, previously linked to SARS, led the interrogation after Sowore responded to a police invitation involving allegations of forgery and defamation.
Legal experts aren’t holding back, with Marshall Abubakar referencing the Police Act 2020 and a 2007 court ruling to label the arrest a misuse of legal process.
Lawyer Abbas Ochogwu pointed out that the same police unit acting as both complainant and investigator is a “clear breach of due process.”
Hamza Dantani, another legal practitioner, described the Inspector-General of Police as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
The NLC warned that such abuse of power could easily extend to other citizens if left unchecked, stressing that silence equals complicity.
“We can’t afford to slide into dictatorship again,” said NLC President Joe Ajaero. “This constant crackdown stains the government’s image both at home and abroad.”
Amnesty International reaffirmed Sowore’s 2019 designation as a Prisoner of Conscience and said it continues to monitor his condition.
Calls, texts, and WhatsApp messages sent to police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi remain unanswered.
Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, previously requested that any charges be backed with a formal petition and legal clarity—requests police initially failed to meet.
The police later agreed to reschedule the meeting and provide the needed documents, yet still chose to detain him following his appearance.
As of now, Sowore remains in custody with efforts underway to secure his release through legal channels.
CUPP, NLC, and human rights organizations maintain that any legal case against Sowore should follow due process, not brute force or intimidation tactics.
Article updated 3 hours ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
