HURIWA demands release of rights activist, sack of IGP Egbetokun
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the reported violent treatment of activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, yesterday.
The Guardian gathered that about 6.00 a.m., a police team, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, stormed Sowore’s detention cell, violently attempted to drag him to court, and in the process, broke his right hand. He was then reportedly whisked away to an undisclosed location.
This reported act of cruelty and excessive force, according to a statement, yesterday, by the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, violates Sowore’s fundamental rights and signals a troubling descent into vengeful and authoritarian policing under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
According to RULAAC, the pattern of conduct suggests a personal vendetta rather than lawful and professional policing.
“We remind the NPF that no one is above the Constitution—and that the rights to dignity, due process and freedom from torture or degrading treatment are guaranteed under both Nigerian and international law,” RULAAC noted in a statement made available to The Guardian.
Consequently, it demanded, among others, the immediate cessation of all forms of physical and psychological abuse against Sowore.
Other demands from the group include granting Sowore unhindered access to urgent and adequate medical care for the injury he sustained in police custody, full respect for Sowore’s due process rights, including access to legal representation and timely information on his whereabouts, and independent investigation into this brutal incident, with appropriate sanctions for officers found responsible for this abuse.
RULAAC added: “Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a police state. The actions of the police must reflect professionalism, impartiality, and a commitment to the rule of law—not personal grievances or political expediency.
“We stand in solidarity with Sowore and demand that the Nigerian authorities take urgent steps to guarantee his safety, dignity, and freedom from further abuse.”
Also, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the reported violent assault and arbitrary detention of the pro-democracy activist, Sowore, by operatives of the NPF under the watch of Egbetokun.
Reacting to reports received from Amnesty International and credible eyewitnesses, HURIWA described the incident as a brazen abuse of power, a criminal display of lawlessness, and clear evidence that the current IGP is unfit to continue holding office in a democratic society.
HURIWA condemned this orchestrated intimidation and torture of Sowore, stressing that such unlawful actions have no place in a country that claims to be governed by democratic principles. The association said it is appalled by the silence of President Bola Tinubu, who continues to preside over a country where flagrant abuse of citizens’ fundamental human rights is now being carried out with impunity by top-ranking security officials.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said: “The latest assault on Omoyele Sowore is a dangerous signal to all Nigerians. It proves that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is acting above the Constitution, and the President appears either indifferent or completely out of touch.
“This raises serious concerns about who is actually in charge of this country. If Tinubu is serious about defending democracy, he must immediately call the IGP to order or relieve him of his duties.”
HURIWA noted that the basis of Sowore’s harassment stems from his lawful participation in a peaceful protest by retired police officers who were demanding their unpaid entitlements.
According to the group, the real “crime” Sowore committed in the eyes of the police was merely exercising his right to freedom of assembly and expression. Even more disturbing, HURIWA recalled that during one of the protests, a policeman stationed at Force Headquarters reportedly robbed Sowore of his eyeglasses, a crime yet to be addressed by the Nigeria Police Force.
“It is not the protest that is the issue here. What HURIWA is highlighting is the fact that a police officer, operating in front of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, openly robbed a citizen—a protester—of his personal belongings. That was done in broad daylight and no disciplinary action has been announced. This is to tell you everything you need to know about the state of policing under Egbetokun,” Onwubiko said.
HURIWA, however, accused the IGP of abusing his office and running the police force like a personal militia against perceived critics. The group also suggested that the IGP is acting vindictively toward Sowore because the activist had publicly questioned whether the IGP had reached retirement age—an issue of legitimate public interest.
“This IGP has made it personal. It is now obvious that his actions are not about law enforcement but vendetta,” Onwubiko added.
The group said that if anything happens to Sowore in police custody, the IGP should be held personally liable. It vowed to mobilise nationwide protests to ensure that this blatant abuse of power is not swept under the carpet.
HURIWA, therefore, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, urgent medical care for his injuries, and an end to the phantom charges filed against him.
