Amnesty International Nigeria has issued a strong statement condemning what it describes as the arbitrary and violent treatment of activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
In a press statement released Thursday, the human rights organization revealed it received “deeply disturbing reports” that at around 6:00 AM, Sowore was forcibly dragged out of his detention cell at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja by officers who allegedly inflicted a serious injury on his left hand during the operation.
“Right now, he has been taken to an unknown location,” Amnesty International disclosed.
The group accused the police of attempting to take Sowore to court without notifying his legal team, branding the action as a blatant violation of his constitutional rights and a flagrant disregard for due process.
“Attempting to drag Sowore to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” the statement read.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to:
- Call the police to order
- Halt all further physical or psychological harm against Sowore
- Ensure he is given immediate access to medical care
- Respect due process and rule of law
“The authorities have an obligation to respect and uphold the due process of law,” the organization emphasized.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism across civil society and human rights communities, who view the arrest and treatment of Sowore as part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices in Nigeria.
This comes amid growing domestic and international pressure on the Nigerian government to protect press freedom, uphold civil rights, and rein in security agencies alleged to be engaging in excessive use of force.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
