Nigerian Rights Group Condemns Police Over Sowore’s Alleged Assault
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a fierce denunciation of the Nigeria Police Force and its Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, following the alleged violent assault and arbitrary detention of pro-democracy activist Omoyele Sowore. The group is demanding Egbetokun’s immediate dismissal, arguing that his leadership poses a direct threat to the nation’s democracy and constitutional rights.
In a statement released today, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the incident as a “brazen abuse of power” and a “criminal display of lawlessness.” The condemnation follows credible reports from Amnesty International and eyewitnesses detailing the attack on Sowore while in police custody.
According to these reports, Sowore sustained severe injuries to his left hand after police officers allegedly attempted to forcibly remove him from his detention cell at 6:00 a.m. He was reportedly taken to an undisclosed court without his legal counsel being notified or present. Following this, he was allegedly whisked away to an unknown location, sparking fears for his safety.
HURIWA stressed that this “orchestrated intimidation and torture” of a citizen has no place in a democratic country. The group expressed its alarm over the silence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who they said is presiding over a country where the fundamental rights of citizens are being abused with impunity.
“The latest assault on Omoyele Sowore is a dangerous signal to all Nigerians,” Onwubiko said. “It proves that the Inspector-General of Police… is acting above the Constitution, and the President appears either indifferent or completely out of touch.” He added that if President Tinubu is serious about defending democracy, he must either “immediately call the IGP to order or relieve him of his duties.”
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HURIWA believes Sowore’s harassment stems from his participation in a peaceful protest alongside retired police officers demanding their unpaid entitlements. The group says Sowore’s real “crime” was exercising his right to freedom of assembly and expression. The statement also recalled a previous incident where a policeman allegedly robbed Sowore of his eyeglasses at Force Headquarters—a crime that HURIWA claims has yet to be addressed.
The rights group accused IGP Egbetokun of running the police force like a personal militia and acting on a vendetta against Sowore. HURIWA suggested this vindictive behavior is a result of Sowore publicly questioning whether the IGP had reached the mandatory retirement age.
“It is now obvious that his actions are not about law enforcement but vendetta,” Onwubiko stated, citing Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the abolition of all forms of corruption and abuse of power.
HURIWA also pointed to what it called a “pattern of disregard for the rule of law,” reminding the public of a separate, well-publicized allegation that the IGP had interfered in a legal case involving the Attorney General of Anambra State. The group says it is compiling additional records of allegations against Egbetokun.
HURIWA announced it will no longer be enough for civil society groups to issue statements. Onwubiko issued a stern warning: if anything happens to Sowore in police custody, the IGP will be held personally liable. The group vowed to mobilize nationwide protests if its demands are not met.
“We are warning the IGP in clear terms: if anything happens to Sowore, the human rights community in Nigeria will take to the streets,” Onwubiko declared. “The presidency must act now. The silence of President Tinubu on these abuses is complicity.”
The group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, urgent medical care for his injuries, and an end to all “phantom charges” filed against him. They also called for an independent investigation into his alleged assault and illegal detention and for the prosecution of all officers involved. Above all, HURIWA insisted on the immediate removal of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, whose continued stay in office is deemed a “direct threat to democracy.”
By PRNigeria
