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Protests force Nigerian police to release Omoyele Sowore after 48-hour ordeal.

ABUJA, Nigeria – Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), walked free from police custody on Friday evening, August 8, 2025, after a tense 48-hour detention at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The release followed widespread protests across at least five states, with supporters rallying under hashtags like #FreeSoworeNow and #RevolutionNow, demanding an end to what they called a politically motivated arrest.

Omoyele Sowore’s ordeal began on Wednesday, August 6, when he voluntarily honored an invitation from the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Monitoring Unit. The summons stemmed from two petitions alleging forgery of a police document and criminal defamation. According to police authorities, Sowore’s refusal to provide a statement during interrogation led to his detention.

However, the activist and his supporters argue the charges were a pretext to silence his outspoken criticism of the government and Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, whom Sowore has accused of tenure extension and cronyism within the police force.

In a dramatic turn, reports surfaced on Thursday that Sowore was forcibly moved from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) to an undisclosed location, with allegations that his right arm was broken during a scuffle with police officers.

Omoyele Sowore himself accused the police of attempting to cover up the assault, stating, “Since I came here yesterday, they broke my hand, they have not been able to bring a doctor, they brought a nurse.”

The incident sparked outrage, with organizations like Amnesty International, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL) condemning the police for violating Sowore’s constitutional rights. https://iexclusivenews.com.ng/omoyele-sowore-freed-from-police-detention/

Sowore is lucky to be a Nigerian in Nigeria. Very lucky.

He should go for serious medical check ASAP. I don't trust naija police

Sowore is not serious about winning any elections. He just wants to remain in the news through street activism and noisemaking

Oh swore pls. Na u be the portable wey dey make trends every now and then.at least mosquito bite u wella,u chop slap,beatings,hahahahaha
Go and what
Sin no more
Hahahahahahaha

Agenda must agend.

He wants to psychologically con his way into the coalition movement.
Typical undercover infiltration MO


Doesn't take anything away from his person.
Still got some respect for him.
✊

So many things are going wrong in this country at the moment because one drug baron and certificate forger is in power.

Sowore should not waste time in going for medical check up.

Aluta Continua. A real comrade not fakey like Joe Ajaero.

I used to think his sowore was genuine until he tried to bring down the endsars movement back in 2020. That endsars protest

Sometimes I really wish Nigeria can see people for who they really are

I tot his supporters claimed they chopped off his head ?! Is he now walking without the head ?!

Softmirror:
Sowore is lucky to be a Nigerian in Nigeria. Very lucky.

Hmmmm.. the days of wanton political killings that sent the likes of tunji Braitwaite to untimely graves

SweepingBroom:
I used to think his sowore was genuine until he tried to bring down the endsars movement back in 2020. That endsars protest

Sometimes I really wish Nigeria can see people for who they really are

The way Sowore attack opposition politicians who don't have any power or constitutional authority to effect positive or even negative changes in Nigeria is one reason I stopped taking him serious even though I like him if you take his mole politics aside.



Sowore is working for Tinubu and has always worked for Tinubu. All the things he does are abracadabra to deceive unsuspecting Nigerian youths to see him as their mouthpiece whereas he is only cashing out through his suspicious activism.



He is not serious at all. He works for the ruling party silently or covertly

SisterAnn:
Hmmmm.. the days of wanton political killings that sent the likes of tunji Braitwaite to untimely graves

You a little study of Francophone countries. Neighboring Togo, Benin.......Nigeria is still very lenient compared to those ones.

Sowore is working with Tinubu, his atrests are just eye-service to making him appear to be an adversary of Tinubu. Recall the role played in scattering the EndBadGovernance protests.