Police Deny Torturing Sowore After Arrest Following Court Visit to Nnamdi Kanu

There was mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was reportedly arrested by security operatives shortly after meeting detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Sowore, who attended the court session in solidarity with Kanu, was seen in a viral video embracing the IPOB leader. In the clip, he said, “Mazi, you will be out,” to which Kanu replied with a smile, “Good to see you.” Moments later, Sowore shared another video on Facebook showing security operatives whisking him away. In the footage, men in Nigerian police uniforms could be seen as Sowore insisted that his lawyer accompany him and that his car follow the police van.

However, the Nigeria Police Force later confirmed that Sowore was arrested over allegations of forgery, cyberstalking and other criminal offences — not for his solidarity with Kanu.

In a statement released on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Police explained that Sowore’s arrest was lawful and executed under valid legal authority. Adejobi emphasized that the activist was neither tortured nor mistreated and was released on bail within the 48-hour constitutional period.

Sowore, who had honoured an invitation from the IGP Monitoring Unit before being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, described his detention as “illegal and unjust” in a Facebook post after his release. While in custody, he alleged that he was assaulted and that officers broke his hand, a claim he made in a live-streamed video shared by Sahara Reporters.

The Police dismissed these allegations as “false and misleading,” insisting that Sowore’s detention followed due process and that the viral image showing him with a bandaged hand was “mischievously circulated” to mislead the public.

“For the record, the bandage was part of his personal belongings when he arrived, before his arrest,” the statement read. The Force added that the Inspector-General of Police ordered an internal investigation into how Sowore accessed the bandage during detention, especially after refusing medical examinations offered by independent police medical teams.

According to the statement, two separate medical teams — one led by the Medical Director of the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital and another by the Force Medical Officer — were dispatched on August 7 and 8, 2025, to assess his condition, but Sowore declined both evaluations. The refusals were formally documented.

Reaffirming its “zero-tolerance policy for torture” in line with the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, the Police stressed that every action taken in the case was guided by law, transparency, and professionalism.

Sowore, known for his vocal advocacy and criticism of Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged detention, is expected to appear before a competent court to face the allegations in the coming days.

The Force urged civil society organizations, the media, and the public to avoid sensational reporting, warning that unverified claims could damage public confidence and hinder ongoing investigations.