Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been whisked away to an undisclosed location after his detention in Abuja.
Sowore was at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) on Wednesday to honour an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force.
He went with his lawyers and a travel bag packed with clothes, soap, books, and other essentials — a clear sign he was ready for possible detention.
The activist had earlier warned that the police summons was “defective and riddled with legal errors”. He initially refused to honour it, but later decided to show up at the Force Headquarters.
Supporters from the Take It Back Movement accompanied him, chanting songs against the government and Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
By 6 a.m. on Thursday, sources said a Chief Superintendent of Police linked to Force PRO Muyiwa Adejobi stormed the FID cell and forcefully took Sowore away.
“His location is unknown… the officer broke his hand while trying to take him out without his clothes. He resisted until he was allowed to dress,” the source revealed.
From ‘Inciting Disturbance’ to Forgery Allegations
The original charge against Sowore — “inciting disturbance” — is not recognised under Nigerian law. It was later replaced with allegations of forgery and criminal defamation.
On his X handle, Sowore confirmed that while in custody, he was served two petitions. One, alleging forgery, reportedly came from what he called the “illegal office” of the IGP.
The second, alleging criminal defamation, was written by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bukola Yemisi Kuti.
The petitions were presented by DCP Akin Fakorede, a controversial former SARS officer known for his role before the squad’s disbandment.
NLC Condemns Arrest, Demands Release
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release. Its National President, Joe Ajaero, described the detention as “harassment” and questioned, “How many times has Sowore been arrested this year alone?”
Ajaero reminded the government that “freedom of speech and freedom of association are inalienable rights under our constitution”. He warned that if Sowore can be detained arbitrarily today, “no journalist, no trade unionist, no activist, and no ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow.”
The NLC called on the state to end the harassment of activists, fully respect the rule of law, and protect free speech.
“We cannot allow Nigeria to slide back into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaces freedom and dissent is met with brute force,” Ajaero stated.
A History of Resistance
Sowore is no stranger to state confrontation. The former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters has built a career exposing corruption and demanding accountability from Nigeria’s leaders.
His activism dates back to his university days, where he led student protests against military rule in the early 1990s.
In 2019, he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the “#RevolutionNow” protests.
He spent months in detention despite several court orders granting him bail. International bodies, including Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department, have previously criticised his treatment by Nigerian authorities.
This latest episode adds to concerns among rights groups about growing repression in Nigeria. Critics say it erodes public trust in the police and damages the country’s democratic image globally.
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