COPDEM condemns brutal attack on Sowore, demands justice over police brutality

DDM News

(DDM) – The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has strongly condemned the reported physical assault on activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, which allegedly occurred while he was in police custody in Abuja.

DDM gathered that Sowore, the founder of Sahara Reporters and a prominent voice for democratic accountability, was detained by the Nigerian Police on Wednesday following a petition reportedly filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

However, shocking developments emerged early Thursday morning when Sowore’s social media accounts published alarming details alleging that officers from the IGP’s Monitoring Unit stormed his detention cell at about 6:00 a.m.

The officers, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), reportedly broke Sowore’s right hand before forcefully whisking him away to an undisclosed location.

This latest development has sparked outrage among civil society organizations, rights advocates, and political observers who are now demanding full accountability from the Nigeria Police Force.

In a swift response, COPDEM, through its National Media Team, described the attack as “barbaric, unlawful, and a direct assault on the principles of democracy and human rights.”

According to COPDEM, “Attacking Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian citizen and opposition figure, while in the custody of state security agents is nothing short of state-sponsored brutality.”

They further stated, “This is a dangerous escalation and must not be swept under the carpet. Nigerians must rise to resist this creeping tyranny under the guise of law enforcement.”

COPDEM noted that this is not the first time that Sowore, a consistent critic of government excesses and police abuse, has suffered violations of his rights in the hands of security agents.

The group recalled his previous unlawful detention in 2019 and the infamous DSS invasion of a courtroom to rearrest him during his trial.

They questioned the legality and motive behind the latest arrest and called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to launch an independent investigation into the incident.

The group further expressed concern that the continued misuse of state institutions to intimidate dissenters could plunge Nigeria into a full-blown dictatorship.

DDM reports that Sowore had honored a police invitation earlier this week at the Force Headquarters, accompanied by his legal team, only to be detained shortly after.

His lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, had previously accused the police of violating his client’s rights and acting based on “baseless and vindictive” petitions.

Now with confirmed reports of physical assault, COPDEM is demanding an immediate release of Sowore, urgent medical attention for his injuries, and disciplinary action against all officers involved in the attack.

They also called on the international community, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, to closely monitor the situation and exert pressure on Nigerian authorities to uphold democratic norms.

The alleged attack has reignited conversations about growing authoritarian tendencies in Nigeria and the abuse of law enforcement agencies for political vendettas.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to issue an official statement responding to the grave allegations.

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