Activists Issue Ultimatum as Police Detain Omoyele Sowore Over Dubious Petition
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Police Detain Omoyele Sowore
Tensions escalated in Abuja on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, as members of the Take It Back Movement and allied activist groups issued a two-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force, demanding the immediate release of human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore arrived at the Force Headquarters at 12:16 p.m., carrying a travel bag loaded with essentials—clothing, books, toiletries—indicating he anticipated possible detention. He was responding to a controversial police invitation from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit over a petition filed against him.
Accompanied by his lawyers, Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, and a crowd of supporters chanting anti-government slogans, Sowore stood firm in the face of mounting intimidation. Protesters accused the police of acting on behalf of political interests to silence dissenting voices. Police Detain Omoyele Sowore
Prominent activist Princess Mikky of #NUDE Nigeria declared, “If they don’t release Sowore, they must arrest all of us. We won’t leave until justice is served.” Similarly, Rex Elanu of the Take It Back Movement called the police action a “vendetta by the Inspector General,” emphasizing that Sowore’s arrest is an attack on freedom of speech.
Sowore had earlier described the police invitation as “defective and legally flawed.” The initial charge of “inciting disturbance”—a non-existent term under Nigerian law—was suspiciously changed to “forgery and criminal defamation,” with no supporting legal documents or identity of the petitioner disclosed. Activists believe the police are exploiting vague legal accusations to intimidate a leading voice of resistance.
Online, social media reactions on platform X (formerly Twitter) reflect growing national concern. Hashtags like #FreeSowore, #RevolutionNow, and #EndPoliceBrutality are trending, with many Nigerians accusing the police of abuse of power and politically motivated harassment. One user tweeted, “Sowore is a hero standing against tyranny. This is pure oppression.”
Conversely, a minority of pro-government users argue that Sowore provokes unrest and should be held accountable. However, critics maintain that the real danger lies in suppressing free expression and manipulating the legal system to silence opposition.
This latest episode is seen by many as part of a broader crackdown on activism in Nigeria, highlighting concerns about declining democratic freedoms and misuse of state power. Activists vow to continue peaceful resistance until Sowore is released and the rule of law is upheld. Police Detain Omoyele Sowore
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