Police Broke Sowore’s Hand During Forced Transfer From Cell – Report

Human rights group Amnesty International has accused the Nigeria Police Force of violently assaulting activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, during a reported forced transfer from his detention cell to court in Abuja. The incident allegedly took place around 6:00 a.m. on Thursday at the Force Intelligence Department (FID), with the police reportedly breaking Sowore’s right hand in the process.

According to a statement released by Amnesty International, officers attempted to drag Sowore from his cell without his lawyer present, describing the act as a gross violation of human rights and due process. The organisation said Sowore was injured during the incident and has since been taken to an undisclosed location. The group called on Nigerian authorities to immediately halt any further harm to the activist, provide urgent medical care, and release him unconditionally.

A separate update from Sowore’s verified Facebook page, now operated by an associate, confirmed the claims. The post stated that a police team led by a Chief Superintendent of Police from the IGP Monitoring Unit forcibly entered his cell and broke his hand during the operation.

Sowore was detained on Wednesday after honouring a police invitation from the IGP Monitoring Unit. The invitation stemmed from allegations of forgery and criminal defamation. Despite Sowore’s demand for transparency and a clear legal basis for the summons, the police had reportedly failed to disclose full details of the petitions prior to his appearance.

Sources said Sowore had earlier announced his intention to appear at the Force Headquarters via Facebook, calling on fellow activists and supporters to join him in a peaceful show of solidarity. Following his arrival, he was detained and interrogated by Deputy Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede, a former officer of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

During the interrogation, Sowore was reportedly presented with two petitions: one for alleged forgery, and another filed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Bukola Yemisi Kuti, who was said to have personal ties to the Inspector General of Police. The latter petition accused him of criminal defamation.

Several Nigerian lawyers have spoken out against the incident and Sowore’s continued detention. Abbas Ochogwu criticised the police for acting as both complainant and investigator, calling it a breach of due process. Another lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, cited the Police Act 2020 and case law to argue that the petitions used to arrest Sowore constitute an abuse of power. He noted that the law prohibits officers from using their positions to pursue personal vendettas.

Human rights lawyer Hamza Dantani offered a harsher critique, referring to the current police leadership as the “worst IGP in the entire history of this country.”

Amnesty International reiterated that Sowore is being targeted for his activism. The organisation had previously declared him a Prisoner of Conscience in 2019 following his arrest for leading peaceful protests. As of the time of filing this report, Sowore remains in custody, while efforts by his legal team to secure his release are ongoing. Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi has yet to respond to multiple inquiries regarding the incident.