COALITION for Revolution (CORE) has condemned police brutality against Mr Omoyele Sowore, National Chairman of the African Action Congress (AAC), who was allegedly shot bby a senior police office at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, Monday morning while participating in the National Day of Action against Insecurity and Bad Leadership organized by a coalition of civil society organisations.
While condemning the police for what it described as “attempted assassination in the most categorical of terms,” CORE made a three-point demand where it asked the government to immediately bring all police officers involved in the “brutal attack” to face justice; drop forthwith all trumped up charges against Mr Sowore; and fully and unconditionally restore Sowore’s constitutional rights and freedoms to speech, movement, among others.
A statement signed by Co-conveners of CORE, Comrades Baba Aye and Gbenga Komolafe, further stated that members of CORE will not be deterred by repression from its campaign for liberation.
“Our struggle for total liberation and campaign for #RevolutionNow, which Sowore is a leading light of, remains undeterred. We fight today as part of the working-class people and youth to stop insecurity, end poverty, smash the coercive machinery of the state and bring to birth a better society. We will not stop until victory is won!” CORE stated.
The statement also said: “This is the last in a series of repressive measures meted out against the activist and citizen journalist.
“It would be recalled that Sowore, who is also National Convener of the Take It Back (TiB) movement, an affiliate of CORE, was illegally detained from 3rd August to 24th December 2019, by the secret police. Despite a series of court orders, the state did not release him until there was a groundswell of protests.
“On being released, he was restricted with draconian bail conditions to Abuja. He was again arrested at the beginning of the year for organising a peaceful candlelight protest, along with four other TiB members, for eleven days.
AAC spokesperson provide details of assault
Speaking to online newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES, the Publicity Secretary of AAC, Mr Olorunfemi Adeyeye, provided details on the alleged assault on Mr Sowore by the police.
The newspaper quoted Mr Adeyeye to have stated that a senior police officer targeted Mr Sowore, who alongside other protesters at the Unity Fountain.
“People were assembled already, right beside the Unity Fountain, but while we were getting close, there was an intelligence information that they should lock the gate, hearing that Sowore will be participating in a protest.
“While we got there, we were trying to engage with the police officers (most senior of them) who then said it’s an order from the commissioner of police that there should not be demonstrations. We tried to contest that. In fact, we even called the CP and he said he was not aware of such order. We told them that it is unlawful and that you cannot dictate that people should not protest. Not at this particular time when insecurity, which is the major problem, is ravaging the country.
“People were converging and more persons were joining. We’ve not even started anything when this police officer, ACP Atine, mobilised police officers to the place and the first was a shot. It was directed to him – at a very close range,” Mr Adeyeye said.
He added: “At that time Sowore said you just shot me and she had this look on her face like “I did.” Then they started firing canisters around.”
Police deny assaulting Sowore
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command Monday afternoon denied the alleged assault on Mr Sowore stating that the command has no record indicating that the activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters was shot.
A statement signed by the FCT police spokesperson, Ms Mariam Yusuf, denied any altercation with Mr Sowore and that contrary to media reports, “police operatives professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance.”
The statement also reads: “FCT Police Command wishes to debunk the viral message in some sections of the social media purporting that ‘Omoyele Sowore was shot by a female Assistant Commissioner of Police’ at the Unity Fountain.”
According to Yusuf, “[t]he protesters, who went on the rampage, were resisted by police operatives in order to prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order. There is no record of such incident as at the time of this release.”
The statement urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, reaffirming the police’s commitment to the protection of lives and property in the FCT.
Feature Image: Premium Times
