Stolen AI glasses returned to Sowore after police scandal

DDM News

(DDM) – The Nigeria Police Force has returned human rights activist Omoyele Sowore’s AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta eyeglasses, weeks after they were stolen during a mass protest in Abuja.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, confirmed the recovery on Tuesday via his social media handles, where he described the thief as “the National Thief, Aku Victor Chiemerie.”

DDM gathered that the glasses, which serve both medical and artificial intelligence functions, were taken during a protest by retired police officers on July 21, 2025, outside the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, in Abuja.

The demonstration was staged to demand improved welfare and retirement benefits for former police personnel.

During the protest, a rogue cameraman identified as Aku Victor Chiemerie, attached to the Force Public Relations Officer’s office, was captured on video removing and fleeing with Sowore’s high-tech glasses.

The incident quickly drew public outrage, with activists, journalists, and rights groups condemning the brazen theft in broad daylight at a supposedly secure police facility.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) called for an impartial investigation, accusing the police of shielding the suspect despite clear video evidence.

Sowore, through his legal team, Tope Temokun Chambers, filed two petitions, one to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and another to the Divisional Police Station in Asokoro, demanding the return of his property and prosecution of the culprit.

The activist alleged that Chiemerie later deactivated his Facebook account under the alias “Vyktur McEntire Akunamatata” in an attempt to evade identification.

According to Sowore, the police authorities have now admitted the theft and returned the glasses to him.

He, however, maintained that justice must follow, stressing that returning the stolen item did not erase the crime or its implications for the image of the police.

Sowore vowed that the individual responsible would still face accountability, warning that “no amount of hiding, deleting, or shielding will protect him from justice.”

The AI Ray-Ban Meta eyeglasses are valued not only for their financial worth but also for the sensitive personal data they store, making the theft a serious privacy concern.

Public reaction to the recovery has been mixed, with some seeing it as a small victory for accountability, while others view it as another example of the systemic rot within the police force.

Rights advocates insist that the matter must not be quietly buried now that the property has been returned, urging the authorities to prosecute the case to conclusion.

The police have yet to announce whether disciplinary or criminal charges will be filed against Chiemerie.

For many Nigerians, the incident serves as a stark reminder that misconduct within law enforcement remains a pressing national challenge, one that cannot be solved by mere restitution.

🚨 Follow DDM WhatsApp channel Now!

Get breaking news, hot gist, and updates FIRST!

*📲 Click to join 👇* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vajkwdc4dTnFHl19vW3g

*Apply at the link below and Start Your Tech Journey:*

👇🏽

https://www.ddm.media/cohort-6

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook