The Nigeria Police Force has responded to widespread condemnation over the recent arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore. Police stated that his detention was based on allegations of criminal forgery and cyberstalking.
In a statement, the authorities denied accusations that Sowore was subjected to torture while in custody. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, affirmed that the activist’s arrest was conducted lawfully and adhered to constitutional procedures.
He stated that Sowore was detained based on “credible, corroborated allegations” and was granted bail within the legally mandated 48-hour period. Adejobi addressed viral images showing Sowore with a bandaged arm, asserting that the bandage was on his arm before he was taken into custody.
He further claimed that the activist twice declined offers for an independent medical examination on August 7th and 8th. Adejobi added that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun launched an internal inquiry into how the bandage was accessed during his detention.
“The detention was anchored on legal authority, devoid of malice, bias, or political undertones,” he said, urging the public to disregard sensationalism and affirming that no citizen is above the law.
However, Sowore’s arrest on Wednesday, after he honoured a police invitation, triggered immediate and fierce backlash from civil society and political leaders.
Protests erupted on Thursday at the police headquarters in Abuja and the Lagos State Command, with demonstrators accusing the government of intimidation.
Upon his release on Friday evening, Sowore took to the social media platform X, thanking his supporters and describing his detention as “unjust, unwarranted, and unlawful.”
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He later detailed his ordeal in a live broadcast, alleging that he had been assaulted.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International issued a condemnation, alleging that officers had broken Sowore’s arm while attempting to forcibly take him to court.
The group called for the immediate dismissal of what it termed “bogus and politically motivated charges.”
The incident drew sharp criticism from prominent political figures. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar labelled the arrest “a shameful abuse of power,” suggesting it stemmed from a personal vendetta by Egbetokun.
Similarly, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the detention as a “miscarriage of justice.”
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) weighed in, with President Joe Ajaero warning that the repeated harassment of activists like Sowore, whom he called a “moral compass,” could signal a slide towards dictatorship and endanger the rights of all Nigerians.
