Police investigators have been accused of manhandling, shoving, and wrestling with human rights activist Omoyele Sowore during an interrogation at the Force Headquarters.
The incident reportedly occurred after Sowore, who was accompanied by his lawyers, objected to a physical search in the holding room where he was being questioned. According to sources, a heated confrontation erupted when Sowore insisted on due process and refused to be searched without proper documentation. The officers allegedly became visibly irritated by his demands and resorted to physical aggression. The situation escalated further as police reportedly threatened and attempted to intimidate Sowore.
This interrogation is part of a larger, ongoing legal challenge against Sowore. The initial invitation from the police was flawed, citing a non-existent law and charging him with “inciting disturbance.” After Sowore publicly challenged the invitation, the police revised their allegations to “forgery and criminal defamation” but have yet to provide the necessary legal documents or identify the petitioner.
As of the time of the report, Sowore had not been released and was told to wait for a Deputy Inspector General of Police, a move his legal team fears is a delay tactic to prolong his detention. This incident is the latest in a series of legal battles and arrests Sowore has faced, which critics and supporters condemn as political persecution for his activism and his media outlet, which has exposed alleged corruption within the police force.