‘His hand is broken’ — Sowore’s camp raises alarm over assault in police custody
Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has reportedly had his hand broken by the police and has been moved to an unknown location after being detained in Abuja.
According to a post on his official Facebook page, around 6 a.m., a police team led by a Chief Superintendent of Police from the IGP Monitoring Unit “forcibly entered detention cell at the FID in Abuja, broke his right hand, and transported him to an undisclosed location.”
A source also told SaharaReporters that Sowore was taken away early Thursday morning. “His location is unknown.
“A CSP who works with Muyiwa Adejobi came this morning and forcefully took him away after breaking his hand.”
““His hand is currently broken because when the officer came this morning, he was ready to take him out of the cell without his clothes, but Sowore had to resist and said he wasn’t going to go out of the place without wearing his clothes,” the source told Sahara Reporters.
Sowore was arrested on Wednesday after honouring a police invitation over a petition filed against him.
He arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja at 12:16 p.m. with a packed travel bag. He was joined by his lawyers and supporters chanting anti-government songs.
A post on the X page of Sowore said: “The notorious former SARS officer, DCP Akin Fakorede presented two petitions to Sowore from the illegal IGP’s office, one alleged forgery and the second written by Bukola Yemisi Kuti, who was promoted to ACP because she’s mistress alleges “Criminal Defamation”
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to release Omoyele Sowore without conditions, saying the activist has faced continuous harassment and intimidation by the police.
In a statement on Wednesday, the global human rights group condemned what it described as Sowore’s arbitrary detention and said authorities should listen to critics rather than silence them through abuse of power.
The organisation also asked the government to drop all charges against Sowore, which it described as false and politically motivated.
Amnesty International said Sowore should be allowed to freely express his views and take part in peaceful protests. It added that beyond charging him with questionable offences, the activist has faced repeated human rights violations.
The group further recalled that since 2019, Sowore has been subjected to unfair trials and detentions simply for peacefully exercising his rights.
