Rights Groups Condemn Police Over Alleged Assault and Detention of Omoyele Sowore
Amnesty International and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have strongly condemned the alleged violent assault and continued detention of human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police Force, describing the incident as a gross abuse of power and a blatant violation of constitutional rights.
In separate statements, both organisations decried what they termed the inhumane treatment of Sowore while in police custody and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Amnesty International revealed that Sowore sustained a serious injury to his left hand during an attempt by security operatives to forcibly move him from his detention cell to an undisclosed court at around 6:00 a.m.
“Amnesty International just received a deeply disturbing report of the violent attempt by the police to forcibly drag activist Omoyele Sowore from his cell to a court at 6:00 a.m. As a result, he sustained a severe injury on his left hand. He has now been taken to an unknown location,” the organisation said in a statement.
The rights group also criticised the authorities for allegedly denying Sowore access to his legal team, describing the move as a flagrant disregard for due process and the rule of law.
“Attempting to drag Sowore to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant violation of the rule of law. The authorities must respect and uphold due process,” Amnesty said.
It demanded immediate medical care for Sowore, unfettered access to his lawyers, and the dismissal of what it termed “bogus and politically motivated charges.”
“The Nigerian authorities must release Sowore unconditionally and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him. They should listen to critics instead of gagging them through outright abuse of power,” the group added.
In a similar vein, HURIWA issued a scathing statement condemning the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Nigeria Police Force over what it called “a brazen abuse of power” and “a criminal display of lawlessness” in the treatment of Sowore.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the reported assault and detention represent a grave threat to democracy and civil liberties in Nigeria.
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“The latest assault on Omoyele Sowore is a dangerous signal to all Nigerians. It proves that the Inspector-General of Police is operating above the Constitution, while the President appears either indifferent or completely out of touch,” Onwubiko stated.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must act decisively by either calling the IGP to order or removing him from office, if he is serious about defending democratic governance and constitutional rights.
HURIWA alleged that Sowore’s arrest was linked to his participation in a peaceful protest alongside retired police officers demanding unpaid entitlements—suggesting that his real “offence” was merely exercising his right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The group also recalled a previous incident in which a policeman allegedly stole Sowore’s eyeglasses at the Force Headquarters, a complaint they say was never addressed by the authorities.
Accusing IGP Egbetokun of running the police force as a “personal militia,” HURIWA suggested that Sowore’s continued harassment is part of a vendetta, allegedly triggered by Sowore’s public questioning of the IGP’s retirement eligibility.
“It is now obvious that these actions are not about enforcing the law but about settling personal scores. This is a dangerous precedent,” Onwubiko added, citing Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates the state to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.
HURIWA warned that civil society will no longer rely solely on press statements, vowing nationwide protests if their demands are ignored. It declared that the IGP would be held personally liable if anything happens to Sowore in custody.
Both Amnesty International and HURIWA demanded Sowore’s immediate release, urgent medical attention, and an end to what they called “phantom charges” against him. They also called for an independent investigation into his arrest, alleged assault, and unlawful detention, and for all implicated officers to be prosecuted. HURIWA further insisted on the immediate dismissal of the Inspector-General of Police, citing his continued stay as a “direct threat to democracy.”
Sowore was arrested on Wednesday after honouring a police invitation over allegations of forgery and incitement to public disturbance. According to reports, he was severely injured while being forcibly removed from his cell without his lawyer’s knowledge or presence and was subsequently taken to an unknown location, sparking widespread concern for his safety.
His detention has since provoked outrage among civil society organisations and human rights defenders across the country.
By PRNigeria
