Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, is at the centre of mounting concern after reportedly being relocated by the police to an unknown location following a confrontation that allegedly left him injured while in custody.
Sowore was said to have been moved at about 6 a.m. on Thursday by officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), shortly after spending the night at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. His arrest followed a police invitation he honoured on Wednesday, arriving with his lawyers and a travel bag that suggested he anticipated being detained.
Conflicting accounts have since emerged over the circumstances of his transfer. A source alleged that Sowore’s hand was broken during a scuffle after he resisted being taken away without being allowed to dress properly.
“He refused to leave without wearing his clothes. The officer insisted on dragging him out, which led to a scuffle and his hand got broken in the process,” the source said.
The incident has sparked outrage among civil society organisations, who describe the development as an escalating attack on dissent. Activist groups, including the Take It Back Movement, had earlier given police a two-hour ultimatum to release Sowore or face mass protests.
While in custody, Sowore was reportedly confronted with two petitions—one accusing him of forgery and another filed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Bukola Yemisi Kuti, alleging criminal defamation. According to Sowore, the petitions were presented by DCP Akin Fakorede, a former SARS officer with a controversial past. He dismissed the police invitation as legally defective and accused the Force of intimidation and abuse of power.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Sowore alleged that the petitioners had ties to senior police officers, raising concerns about the neutrality of the investigation.
Legal observers have questioned the legitimacy of the charges, especially as “inciting disturbance,” one of the initial accusations, is not recognised under Nigerian law.
Human rights lawyer Tope Temokun issued a strongly worded statement on August 7, condemning what he described as a “murder plot in disguise” and “state terrorism.” He accused the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Team of torturing and secretly relocating Sowore after he had honoured their invitation peacefully. Temokun said Sowore’s right arm was dislocated during the forceful transfer and alleged that a noxious substance was released into his holding cell prior to his removal to what is believed to be an underground facility.
“This is not law enforcement. This is state terrorism,” Temokun said, drawing comparisons to the treatment of late human rights icons Gani Fawehinmi and MKO Abiola while in detention.
He warned that the Nigeria Police would be held accountable for any harm physical or psychologicaldone to Sowore and called for his immediate release and a public apology from the authorities.
