In a disturbing turn of events, Nigerian human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was reportedly whisked away from police custody in the early hours of Thursday morning — his location now unknown.
Sowore had voluntarily turned himself in to the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja on Wednesday, after receiving what he described as a legally defective police invitation. What was expected to be a routine appearance quickly escalated into what allies now call a case of state-sponsored abduction.
According to an inside source who spoke with SaharaReporters, a Chief Superintendent of Police, allegedly working under the direction of Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, arrived at FID around 6 a.m. on Thursday and forcefully removed Sowore — reportedly without proper documentation or notice.
“They broke his hand in the process,” the source revealed. “The officer tried to drag him out of the cell without allowing him to even wear his clothes. Sowore resisted, insisting he wouldn’t leave half-dressed.”
His injured arm is a stark reminder of what many now see as the brutal face of state repression.
On Wednesday, as Sowore arrived at the Force Headquarters with a packed travel bag, it was clear he suspected arrest. Inside the bag were essentials: books, clothing, soap, toothpaste, and a toothbrush — a familiar ritual for a man who has seen the inside of state detention far too many times. His legal team, including Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, accompanied him, alongside supporters from the Take It Back Movement, chanting slogans against the police and the administration.
Shortly after his detention, the mood outside the station grew tense. Activists issued a two-hour ultimatum to police: Release Sowore or face mass protests.
Inside, Sowore was reportedly served two petitions — one alleging forgery, the other criminal defamation — the latter linked to a certain Bukola Yemisi Kuti, whom some sources allege has close ties to the Inspector General of Police and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner as a result.
The petitions were presented by DCP Akin Fakorede, a name that draws fear and resentment among those who recall his time with the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) — a unit globally condemned for human rights abuses.
“The petitions came from the illegal IGP’s office,” Sowore posted on his X account while still in custody. “One from a mistress promoted to ACP and the other from the force itself, all to silence me.”
The original allegation of “inciting disturbance” — which doesn’t exist under Nigerian law — was quietly switched to charges more convenient for prosecution.
For many observers, this case is not just about Sowore. It reflects a broader climate in Nigeria where dissent is criminalized, and police forces act with impunity. Civil rights advocates say the use of covert transfers, alleged physical assault, and dubious charges points to a deepening crackdown on free speech and activism.
As of Thursday afternoon, Sowore’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the police are yet to release any official statement on his condition or location.
His supporters, however, say they are not backing down.
“We will not be silenced,” one protester said outside the FID office. “If they can do this to Sowore, they can do it to any of us.”
