Omoyele SoworeHuman rights activist accuses Nigerian police of torture and political persecution, as public figures and rights groups condemn the arrest.
Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been released from police custody after spending over 48 hours in detention at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In a late-night Facebook post on Friday, Sowore confirmed his release, describing his ordeal as “unjust, illegal, and unwarranted,” adding that it was “nothing to celebrate.”
The activist, who appeared with a bandaged hand, accused the police of breaking his hand, denying him medical care, and staging a media appearance to create the false impression that he was fine. “Since I came here yesterday, they broke my hand. Instead of bringing a doctor, they brought the media. This is unnecessary. They should have released me, apologised, and let me get proper treatment,” he said in a live-streamed address to journalists.
Sowore was arrested on Wednesday after honouring an invitation from the Inspector-General of Police's Monitoring Unit. The police alleged he was under investigation for two petitions bordering on alleged forgery of police documents and cyberbullying. His lawyer, Tope Temokun, claimed he was moved to an undisclosed location under circumstances that left him injured.
The detention sparked widespread outrage from political leaders, civil society, and human rights groups. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) described it as a breach of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and international human rights treaties, calling for his “immediate and unconditional release.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar labelled the arrest a “shameful abuse of power,” alleging it was motivated by “personal vendetta” rather than lawful policing. Similarly, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the detention as “a miscarriage of justice and abuse of state power,” stressing that Sowore had voluntarily appeared before the police.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana also faulted the police, citing a violation of Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the dignity of every person. He demanded an investigation under the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and insisted that those responsible be prosecuted.
Protests demanding Sowore’s release erupted on Friday across Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and Osun states. However, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, claimed Sowore was detained for allegedly refusing to make a statement.
Sowore vowed to continue speaking out against what he called systemic injustice and political oppression in Nigeria.
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