Omoyele Sowore Faces Police Intimidation Over Refusal to Write Statement Without Petition Access
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Sowore Faces Police Intimidation
On August 6, 2025, Sahara Reporters shared a detailed story about a tense situation between human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and the Nigeria Police Force. Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, allegedly faced threats of being handcuffed after declining to provide a written statement regarding accusations of forgery and criminal defamation, according to reports.
The report says Sowore wanted to see the official petition and the name of the person who filed it before he would make a statement.
He and his legal team say this is a legal right. But the police reportedly refused to show him these documents, which led him to refuse to give his statement.
Because Sowore insisted on proper legal procedures, officers were reportedly instructed to bring handcuffs and vehicles. According to a source, this was done to intimidate and coerce him into providing a statement. Sahara Reporters cited a source who stated, “Officers were instructed to bring handcuffs and vehicles to intimidate and coerce the activist.”
This incident is part of a series of conflicts between Sowore and Nigerian authorities.
Activists believe these actions are part of a strategy to silence Sowore’s criticism of government corruption and police misconduct. A protest leader told Sahara Reporters, “It’s shameful that the Inspector General of Police is using a personal vendetta against Sowore, who has always spoken truth to power.”
Sowore previously declined a police invitation citing a nonexistent law, describing the letter as “defective and riddled with legal errors.” This has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the charges. The incident seems to indicate a wider trend of employing vague legal assertions to curtail citizens’ free expression.
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