Authorities Under IGP Attempt To Cover Up Brutal Assault On Human Rights Activist, Sowore
By The9JaTREND
Authorities under the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, are attempting to cover up the brutal assault on human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by a team of police officers on Thursday morning.
As previously reported by SaharaReporters, Sowore was attacked by no fewer than eight police officers early Thursday before being moved to an undisclosed location.
During the incident led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), the officers broke Sowore’s hand while attempting to forcefully take him to court. The officers had claimed that they wanted to take him to court.
He had insisted that his lawyers be present and that he be allowed to wear his clothes before leaving.
Following the assault, Sowore was secretly transferred from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, where he had been detained on Wednesday after honouring an official invitation.
However, rather than investigating the brutalisation, it was discovered that police authorities are more focused on discovering how a photo showing Sowore’s right hand wrapped in bandages made its way online.
Meanwhile, the activist has reportedly been denied medical attention as police officers scramble to contain the fallout from the leaked image.
“The police authorities are attempting to cover up for the team that broke Sowore’s hand. They sent a representative to interview him in the presence of one of his lawyers, A.K. Musa,” one of the sources said.
“They even brought back the CSP who led the assault, but their main concern was how the photo of the injury leaked. Although they initially claimed they would confront the officer responsible, they later backed down and returned the activist to detention at the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) office in the Apo area.”
The source added, “He has also been denied medical care; their only concern is discovering how the photo of his bandaged hand got out.”
Background
It was previously reported that the activist was taken from the FID premises around 6 a.m. and relocated to an unknown destination.
Providing further details, a source said: “They invaded Sowore’s cell at 6 am this (Thursday) morning; the police officers were led by a police CSP. They said they were going to court, but he insisted they must bring his lawyers before going.
“So they pounced on him; there were eight of them who pounced on him, and they were led by a police CSP.
“They tried to drag him out of the cell, but he insisted he could not be dragged out without his clothes. Right now, his right hand is twisted. They broke his hand. It was learnt that a unit from the IGP monitoring unit led by DCP Akin Fakorede carried out the operation, but the CSP reportedly works under Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force spokesman.”
Sowore had accused the police of intimidation and abuse of power after being detained on Wednesday evening.
It was reported on Wednesday that Sowore had arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja carrying a travel bag, as he honoured a controversial invitation from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit over a petition reportedly filed against him.
Sowore, who arrived at exactly 12:16 p.m., was accompanied by his lawyers, Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, along with a crowd of supporters chanting anti-government and anti-Kayode Egbetokun songs.
His visibly packed travel bag contained personal essentials — including toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, clothing, books, and other items — a symbolic gesture suggesting he was prepared for possible detention.
Tensions escalated as members of the Take It Back Movement and other allied activist groups issued a two-hour ultimatum to the police to either release Sowore or face mass resistance.
Since Sowore’s detention by the police on Wednesday, many organisations and individuals have called for his immediate release.
Sowore had earlier rejected the police’s invitation, describing it as “defective and riddled with legal errors,” casting doubt on its validity.
The original allegation against him — “inciting disturbance,” a term not recognised under Nigerian law — was later replaced with “forgery and criminal defamation.”
A post on his X handle on Wednesday revealed that he was detained after honouring a police invitation. While in custody, he was served two petitions, which originated from the IGP’s office.
The post 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 said 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.”
Critics say the case reflects a pattern of state harassment against dissenting voices and further undermines public confidence in the rule of law. (SaharaReporters)
