BREAKING: Nigeria Police launch manhunt for Sowore

The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday evening launched a manhunt for Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement.

The action follows a video he recorded during an altercation with police officers on Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.

The video shows police officers stationed on the road, apparently extorting money from motorists.

A source said the manhunt was initiated after days of deliberation and persistent appeals to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take action against Sowore.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is currently in Nigeria and is scheduled to appear in court on February 4, 2025, for a cybercrime trial initiated by Senator Ned Nwoko, who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The video posted on Sowore’s X and TikTok accounts has garnered nearly 917,000 views and over 2.9 million views respectively.

Nwoko is suing for criminal defamation, injurious falsehood publication of news known to be false contrary to section 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, and 418 of the Penal code of Northern Nigeria through his lawyers, Trifold Law & Partners.

The petition signed by Bryan U. Ukaegbu on behalf of the law firm accuses Sowore of several defamatory statements on the news platform and social media handles, aimed at running down their client’s business and political career. The matter had been adjourned to February 4, 2025.

On May 2, 2024, Sowore addressed Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, informing the court that the police actions against him were an insult.

The video in question shows Nigerian police officers stopping vehicles on the road, including Sowore’s.

He confronted the officers, criticizing them for creating unnecessary traffic on the airport road. Sowore emphasized that their actions were inappropriate and disruptive.

In the video, Sowore is heard saying, “We are not parking. You are not supposed to be causing traffic on the airport road. We are not parking. Go and bring your Oga. You people should calm down.”

Despite his objections, the police officers stood in front of his car, insisting he park. Sowore, however, refused and firmly demanded that the officers clear the road.

Eventually, one of the officers instructed his colleagues to allow Sowore to proceed. As he drove off, one officer was heard saying, “God punish you,” to which Sowore promptly responded, “God punish you too.”

Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Sowore is a Nigerian politician, human rights activist, and journalist who has been a vocal advocate for democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

Born on February 16, 1971, in Ondo State, Nigeria, Sowore studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos and later earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Sowore is the founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news agency that has been a thorn in the side of corrupt Nigerian politicians and businessmen.

He has also been involved in various pro-democracy movements and has run for president of Nigeria twice, first in 2019 and again in 2023.

Sowore’s activism has not been without its challenges.

He has been arrested and detained several times by the Nigerian authorities, including in 2019 when he was charged with treason and money laundering after calling for a nationwide protest against the government.

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