(DDM) – Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was reportedly treated at the Kuje Correctional Centre Clinic after sustaining injuries from a violent attack by police officers at the Magistrate Court in Kuje, Abuja.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, confirmed the development in a statement issued late Friday, accusing the police of brutality, unlawful detention, and deliberate efforts to silence the activist.
According to Temokun, Sowore was beaten, dragged, and manhandled by officers of the Nigerian Police Force during a court proceeding before being forcefully whisked away to the Kuje Correctional Centre under what he described as “a coordinated assault on justice and human rights.”
The lawyer alleged that the police connived with a Kuje Magistrate to unlawfully remand Sowore despite being granted bail, claiming that the magistrate was intimidated and prevented from signing the bail bond.
“Our client, Omoyele Sowore, was brutally attacked and bundled into a prison van within the court premises,” Temokun said.
“He sustained visible injuries and had to be treated at the Kuje prison clinic. The police acted with impunity, defying every constitutional safeguard of liberty.”
He further stated that the police’s actions were premeditated, aimed at humiliating Sowore and deterring citizens from speaking against government oppression.
DDM learned that Sowore’s supporters and journalists at the scene also suffered physical assaults and harassment, with some having their phones seized and recordings deleted by police officers.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as “barbaric,” noting that the officers stormed the court in large numbers and used excessive force despite the peaceful atmosphere.
Civil rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Coalition for Revolution (CORE), have condemned the act, calling for immediate disciplinary action against the officers involved and the release of Sowore.
Amnesty International stated that the assault “further proves the shrinking civic space in Nigeria,” adding that Sowore’s continued persecution reflects the state’s intolerance for dissent.
Sowore, the founder of Sahara Reporters and leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, has been repeatedly arrested and charged for organizing protests against bad governance and corruption.
He has faced multiple court trials since 2019 under charges critics describe as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, public outrage has intensified across social media, with activists accusing the police and judiciary of colluding to suppress free speech.
The incident has reignited debates on police reform and judicial independence, with many Nigerians demanding accountability and the immediate release of the embattled activist.