THE NIGERIAN government is facing mounting condemnation from civil society groups, organised labour and international human rights organisations over the repeated arrests, prolonged detention, and alleged brutalisation of prominent activist, journalist and politician, Mr Omoyele Sowore.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the frequent arrests and detention of Sowore, warning that such actions undermine democracy and the rule of law.
“If Sowore has offended any big man or woman in government or has in any way offended the law, they should be bold enough to explore the legal options available such as going to court, but certainly not to resort to this level of harassment. How many times has Sowore been arrested this year alone?” NLC said in a press statement signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, entitled: “UNENDING ARREST OF SOWORE”.
The NLC cautioned that Nigeria risks sliding back into dictatorship if dissent is met with repression. “If the state can arbitrarily detain Sowore today, no journalist, no trade unionist, no activist, and no ordinary citizen is safe tomorrow. We cannot allow Nigeria to slide back into the dark days of dictatorship, where fear replaces freedom and dissent is met with brute force,” Ajaero stated.
On its part, Amnesty International Nigeria (AI Nigeria) also raised alarms saying that it received reports that Sowore was violently dragged from his cell by police in the early hours of Thursday, allegedly to a court, and in the process, he sustained a severe injury to his left hand.
The human rights organisation claimed that the activist was there after taken to an undisclosed location, sparking fears for his safety.
“Amnesty International just received deeply disturbing report of the violent attempt by the police to forcibly drag activist Omoleye Sowore from his cell to ‘a court’ at 6:00am. As a result he sustained a severe injury on his left hand. Right now, he has been taken to an unknown location.
“We are calling on the Nigerian authorities to call the police to order and halt any further physical harm on Sowore. He must be immediately given adequate medical care. Attempting to drag Sowore to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law.
“The authorities have obligation to respect and uphold due process of law.
“The Nigerian authorities must release Sowore unconditionally and drop all bogus and politically motivated charges against him. The authorities should listen to critics instead of seeking to gag them through outright abuse of power.,” AI Nigeria stated in a statement on its Facebook wall.
A civil society organisation, The Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN), in a press statement, provided harrowing details of Sowore’s ordeal, alleging that he was assaulted by at least eight police officers at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja.
“Sowore, who voluntarily honored a police invitation on Wednesday 6 August 2025, has since been subjected to what sources describe as severe physical assault by at least eight police officers at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja. According to credible reports, the attack occurred at approximately 6:00 AM when a team led by a Chief Superintendent of Police stormed his detention cell.
“”They broke his right hand,” confirmed a source close to the activist. “He refused to be taken away without his clothes, and that’s when they pounced on him.””, WYSN said in its statement entitled: “FREE SOWORE NOW: Police Brutality and Detention Must End – IGP Will Be Held Accountable for Activist’s Safety and Constitutional Rights.”
In the statement signed by Comrade Iortyom Moses, WYSN’s Secretary, The Workers and Youth Solidarity Network demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore or be formally charged in court within constitutional timeframe.
The group also demanded for the activist’s immediate access to proper medical care for injuries sustained during the alleged assault just as it called call for an Independent investigation into the conduct of officers involved in the assault on Sowore.
WYSN warned that failure to release Sowore would trigger nationwide protests. “If the Nigeria Police Force fails to release Omoyele Sowore immediately, we will mobilize Nigerians to take to the streets in peaceful protest against the Inspector General of Police.,” said Comrade Moses.
The repeated targeting of Sowore has drawn criticism from global rights organizations, with Amnesty International previously declaring him a Prisoner of Conscience in 2019.
