Sowore Detained In Overcrowded Cell With Over 30 Sick Suspected Kidnappers, Fraudsters And Deadly Fulani Herdsmen – Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been reportedly detained in a crowded police cell with over 30 suspects, many of whom are allegedly ill and coughing, raising concerns about his safety and the motive behind his detention.

According to a senior police officer who spoke to SaharaReporters on Thursday, Sowore was thrown into the cell alongside suspected kidnappers and fraudsters on the direct orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The officer explained that the cell is congested and several of the suspects are visibly sick, some coughing persistently.

The source noted that Sowore was pushed in there deliberately.

The source stated that most of the detainees in the cell are Fulani herdsmen with extensive records of involvement in kidnapping.

Describing the condition of the cell as “one of the most terrible,” the officer noted that it appeared to be a deliberate act to detain Sowore there, as many of the inmates are reportedly ill.

“Today, Sowore was kept in a cell with Fulani herdsmen. About 30 of them are in there—others are suspected kidnappers and individuals accused of fraud. It’s a terrible cell. A lot of them are sick and coughing,” the source told SaharaReporters.

Background

Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has faced repeated arrests and harassment over the years due to his activism and opposition to perceived state repression.

SaharaReporters previously reported that the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement has announced plans to picket state commands of the Nigeria Police Force across the country on Friday, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore.

This was made known on Thursday by TIB’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

Sanyaolu, who said the protest will start by 9 am across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, wrote, “We will be occupying @PoliceNG state commands tomorrow. Join a barricade from your state. #FreeSowore #EgbetokunMustGo”

TIB described Sowore’s detention by the Nigeria Police Force under the authority of “illegal” Inspector General of Police Egbetokun as illegal, vengeful, and a gross abuse of power.

SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that Sowore by the police after honouring an invitation over ‘petitions’ filed against him.

Sowore, who voluntarily honoured the invitation, arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his legal team —A.K. Musa, Marshal Abubakar — and several supporters.

Upon arrival, investigators reportedly stalled proceedings, claiming Sowore had to wait for the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) after the activist demanded to see the original copy of the petitions and declined to make a statement without it.

SaharaReporters also reported that at least eight police officers stormed the Force Intelligence Department (FID) at about 6 am on Thursday and forcibly moved Sowore to an undisclosed location.

It was learnt that the officers assaulted the activist and twisted his right hand, causing an injury, after he insisted on seeing his lawyers and collecting his clothes before being taken away.

Sowore earlier accused the police of intimidation and abuse of power and revealed that he was served two petitions while in custody, which he claimed originated from what he described as the “illegal office of the IGP.”

He noted that the petitions were handed over by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akin Fakorede, a controversial former officer of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Sowore said the first petition accused him of forgery, while the second was reportedly filed by one Bukola Yemisi Kuti, whom sources told SaharaReporters was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) due to her relationship with the Inspector General of Police.

The second petition accuses Sowore of “criminal defamation.”

Sowore has faced repeated arrests and detentions by Nigerian security agencies in recent years, often in connection with his activism and public criticism of government policies. (SaharaReporters)