Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, is allegedly facing grave danger while in detention, according to a statement released by his legal counsel, Tope Temokun.
Sowore was arrested on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, after honoring a police invitation from the Inspector-General of Police’s Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja. The invitation, which reportedly pertained to allegations of forgery and defamation, has since snowballed into a full-blown human rights controversy. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
According to his lawyer, Mr. Temokun, Sowore’s brief detention turned into an ordeal when he was allegedly brutalized and forcibly moved to an undisclosed location in the early hours of Thursday. The physical assault reportedly dislocated his right arm, and he was then transferred to what his legal team described as an underground cell.
The most alarming development, however, came with allegations that noxious gas was released into the cell where Sowore was initially held — a tactic the legal team believes was a deliberate attempt on his life.
“A Calculated Attempt to Kill Him”
“This is not negligence or incompetence,” Temokun stated. “It is a calculated attempt to break Sowore physically and psychologically. These unfolding horrors are not coincidental — they are deliberate, they are targeted, and they are evil.”
Temokun compared Sowore’s current ordeal to the historical cases of Chief Gani Fawehinmi and MKO Abiola, both of whom allegedly suffered chemical attacks while in detention. “We know these tactics; we’ve seen them used on voices the government wants to silence,” he warned.
Unlawful Detention and Human Rights Concerns
Despite voluntarily responding to the police invitation, Sowore was detained without clear charges and without legal justification. Human rights groups and civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the arrest and subsequent treatment as politically motivated repression.
Amnesty International stated on Thursday that Sowore’s arm was visibly broken during his forced transfer to court and called for his immediate release.
Other prominent Nigerian lawyers have also criticized the incident, citing violations of due process, abuse of power, and growing concerns over rising authoritarianism.
Sowore’s “Crime”? Speaking Truth to Power
Sowore’s lawyers argue that the only “crime” he is guilty of is his relentless criticism of government policies and actions. Notably, he had recently challenged the legality of IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s continued stay in office beyond the constitutionally mandated retirement age.
“This is not law enforcement — it is state terrorism,” Temokun declared. “If anything happens to Sowore, the Nigeria Police Force and those responsible will be held fully accountable before both the law and the Nigerian people.”
A Call for Justice
As the situation unfolds, Nigerians and international observers are keeping a close eye on the fate of Omoyele Sowore. Civil society has called for a full investigation into his treatment, transparency from the police, and accountability at the highest levels.
Meanwhile, the legal team insists on his immediate and unconditional release, a public apology, and assurances that such violations will never happen again.
