The continued detention of human right activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore by the Nigeria Police, has attracted condemnations, with calls for his immediate release or trial at a law court.
This is as the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) has sprnt his second day in Police custody, with allegations of torture and dehumanization by his legal team
Condemning the detention of the right activist, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, described the alleged assault and maltreatment of Sowore as a “shameful abuse of power” and an act of personal vendetta by the Nigeria Police Force.
Sowore was reportedly brutalised on Thursday morning during an attempt by officers from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit to forcibly move him from detention to court.
According to his lawyers, his hand was broken in the process, and he was allegedly sprayed with chemicals.
Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X handle, questioned the legality of the IGP’s involvement in the case.
“The treatment of @YeleSowore by the IGP Monitoring Team is a shameful abuse of power. It is wrong, unlawful, and must be condemned by all who believe in justice,” he wrote.
While demanding for his immediate release, Atiku noted that “Sowore’s only offence is speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule. For that, he was reportedly attacked at dawn, beaten, had his arm broken, and sprayed with chemicals by policemen acting on petitions from the IGP’s own office. This is personal vendetta, not policing,” he said.
The former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate cited Section 367 of the Nigeria Police Regulation, and pointed out the illegality of the IGP acting as both complainant and enforcer.
“No police officer shall institute any legal proceeding in his own personal interest or in connection with matters arising out of his public duties,” he cited, adding, “The IGP cannot be a complainant and still deploy the force to carry out his grievance.”
Atiku warned that the attack on Sowore is a broader threat to democratic freedom.
“This is not about Sowore alone, it is an attack on every Nigerian who dares to speak truth to power. This must stop,” he declared.
Similarly, the he Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) called for the immediate and unconditional release of pro-democracy activist and journalist
National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said Sowore’s detention flouts Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and opinion.
Ameh regretted that the police had turned into an instrument of oppression and called for accountability.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of Omoyele Sowore by the Nigerian Police, an act that flouts Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and share ideas without interference.
“This arrest is not only unjust but also a disturbing misuse of police power, turning an institution meant to protect Nigerians into a tool for oppression and personal vendettas. This arrest is a blatant abuse of power and an affront to the principles of justice and accountability enshrined in the constitution.
“The Nigerian Police owe Nigerians a clear explanation for Sowore’s arrest. Denying him his right to bail is indefensible and further exposes the misuse of authority to silence dissent. We demand his immediate and unconditional release, and if the Inspector General believes there is a case to answer, Sowore should be charged to court without delay,” he stated.
In a similar development, Amnesty International described the detention of the human rights activist as a flagrant abuse of power and demanded his immediate release.
The civil society organisation in a statement on Thursday, demanded for his immediate release, even as it called on the Nigerian authorities to call the police to order and halt any further physical harm on Sowore
“Amnesty International just received a deeply disturbing report of the violent attempt by the police to forcibly drag activist Omoleye Sowore from his cell to ‘a court’ at 6:00am,” the statement said. “As a result, he sustained a severe injury on his left hand. Right now, he has been taken to an unknown location.”
“Attempting to drag Sowore to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law. The authorities have an obligation to respect and uphold due process of law
“The Nigerian authorities must release Sowore unconditionally and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him. The authorities should listen to critics instead of seeking to gag them through outright abuse of power,” it added.