Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener Omoyele Sowore was released from Nigeria Police custody late Friday, following nearly three days of detention that ignited widespread protests and condemnation from civil society groups.
Announcing his release on X, Sowore stated, “Nigeria Police Force and its illegal IGP has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement, I have been released from unjust, unwarranted & unlawful detention.
“However, it is nothing to celebrate, but I can’t do without thanking you all for not giving up. You’ve all seen the power of unity #RevolutionNow.”
The detention began on Wednesday, August 6, when Sowore honoured a police invitation from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja, prompted by petitions alleging forgery and criminal defamation.
Accompanied by his legal team, A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, and supporters from the Take It Back Movement, Sowore arrived prepared for potential detention, carrying a travel bag with essentials.
Tensions escalated when he demanded access to the petitions and refused to make a statement without seeing them, leading to his detention.
Reports emerged of alleged assault by police, with claims that Sowore sustained a broken arm during a forcible transfer to an undisclosed location on Thursday morning.
Civil society groups, including the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) and the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), condemned the detention as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” and an “assault on every Nigerian.” OYC’s statement, signed by National President Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, demanded Sowore’s immediate release and prosecution of involved officers, warning, “The more you treat the Nigerian people with disdain, violence, and flawless disregard, the closer you push this country to the edge of civil unrest and anarchy.”
The Take It Back Movement, led by Juwon Sanyaolu, threatened nationwide protests, stating, “The Nigerian people, students, workers, and our entire membership are hereby put on notice for a nationwide protest against the unlawful use of state institutions to suppress dissent.”
The petitions, presented by DCP Akin Fakorede, included one from Assistant Commissioner Bukola Yemisi Kuti, alleging defamation, and another accusing Sowore of forging a police document.
Critics, including the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, argued the charges were baseless, with YRC noting, “None of the cases against him are criminal; ‘insult of an IGP’ is not a known offence under the law.”
Sowore’s prior activism, including a July 21 protest for retired police officers’ welfare, was cited as a trigger for the police’s actions, with supporters alleging a vendetta by IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
The release follows intense pressure from activists, with Amnesty International and HURIWA demanding medical attention for Sowore’s injuries and an end to “phantom charges.”
