Amnesty Int'l Slams Police for Allegedly Breaking Sowore’s Arm in Detention
- Amnesty International has accused the Nigeria Police Force of violently assaulting detained activist Omoyele Sowore during an early morning transfer attempt
- Sowore reportedly sustained a broken arm after resisting being taken to court without access to legal counsel
- The rights group has demanded immediate medical attention for Sowore and accountability for what it described as a blatant abuse of due process
Amnesty International has condemned what it described as the violent and unlawful treatment of detained Nigerian activist, Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a series of posts on its official X handle, Amnesty International Nigeria said it received reports that police officers forcibly entered Sowore’s detention cell at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Source: Facebook
According to the organisation, the officers attempted to drag him to court without notice to his legal counsel, during which he sustained a serious injury to his left hand.
“Sowore must be immediately given adequate medical care. Attempting to drag Sowore to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” the group stated.
The rights group demanded that Nigerian authorities rein in the police and halt any further harm against the activist, adding that the state has an obligation to uphold due process.
Sowore cries foul from detention
Sowore, in a post on his official Facebook page, corroborated the incident. He said a team of nine police officers, including eight heavily armed men, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit, entered his cell forcefully without a warrant or formal notice.
He said the officers refused to disclose the charges against him and denied his request to notify his lawyers.
According to him, the altercation that followed led to his arm being broken before he was transported to another police facility whose location was not revealed.
There has been no official response from the Nigeria Police Force regarding the incident. The activist’s legal team is reportedly seeking clarity on his whereabouts and medical condition.
Sowore's protracted beef with IGP
This is not the first time Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is having a confrontation with Nigerian law enforcement.
He has been arrested multiple times in the past over protests and campaigns critical of the government.
The latest development has triggered widespread concern among civil society actors and human rights advocates who accuse the police of using excessive force and bypassing legal procedures.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to respect Sowore’s rights and ensure accountability for any acts of brutality during his detention.
“The authorities have obligation to respect and uphold due process of law,” it stated
Sowore accuses police officer of stealing AI eyeglasses
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore had accused a Nigeria Police Force officer of stealing his AI Ray-Ban glasses during a major protest held on Monday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The protest, led by Sowore alongside other activists and retired police officers, sought to draw attention to the plight of pensioners and demand the removal of retired officers from the contributory pension scheme.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
