Eyewitnesses claim police officers manhandled Sowore outside Kuje Magistrate Court
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was allegedly assaulted and re-arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Thursday, shortly after being granted bail by a magistrate court in Kuje, Abuja.
Eyewitnesses at the scene claimed that police officers dragged Sowore into a waiting vehicle despite a valid bail ruling earlier issued by the Kuje Magistrate Court. The development has sparked outrage among civil rights advocates, who have described the action as a violation of due process and judicial authority.
According to a report by Politics Nigeria, the incident occurred moments after the magistrate formally approved bail for Sowore and 13 other defendants who had been detained following their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
Sowore allegedly attacked while finalizing bail conditions
Sources at the court said Sowore and his legal team were still working to perfect his bail conditions when a team of officers, led by CSP Ilyasu Barau, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and Officer in Charge of Anti-Vice under the DC-CID, FCT Command, approached him.
According to eyewitnesses, the officers did not provide any reason for the renewed arrest before allegedly attacking the activist.
“The IPO punched him, dragged him on the ground, and forced him into the van. They really manhandled him,” one eyewitness told reporters.
Another witness added that when Sowore’s lawyers and supporters demanded to see the remand order the officers claimed to have, they were rebuffed.
“When we asked to see the remand order they claimed to have obtained, the officer refused to show any document,” the source said. “The police then took Sowore away to Kuje Prison despite his bail, citing a secret remand order.”
Court had granted bail to Sowore and 13 others
Earlier in the day, Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id of the Kuje Magistrate Court granted bail to Sowore and 13 others who were arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace during a recent protest calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The other defendants granted bail alongside Sowore include:
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Aloy Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu’s lead counsel
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Prince Emmanuel Kanu, brother to the detained IPOB leader
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And eleven other activists who were part of the Abuja demonstration
The magistrate had ruled that the defendants be released pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions, which included providing reliable sureties and meeting other standard legal requirements.
Confusion as police allegedly ignore court order
Reports from the courtroom suggest that the atmosphere turned chaotic immediately after the bail ruling. Supporters and members of Sowore’s legal team expressed shock as the police moved in to re-arrest the activist, despite the court’s decision.
Eyewitnesses said Sowore initially resisted the arrest, demanding to know under what authority the officers were acting. However, according to witnesses, the police overpowered him and forced him into a van before driving off toward the Kuje Correctional Centre.
As of press time, it remained unclear whether Sowore was formally remanded by a separate court order or held under a different warrant. Legal experts say if the police acted without a valid order, it could amount to contempt of court and a breach of constitutional rights.
Sowore’s history of arrests and activism
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of the influential online news platform Sahara Reporters, has long been known for his activism and criticism of government policies. He has been arrested multiple times over the years for organizing or participating in protests calling for political reform, good governance, and respect for human rights.
In 2019, Sowore was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) after launching the #RevolutionNow movement. He spent several months in detention before being released following a series of court orders and international pressure from human rights organizations.
Civil society groups say his latest ordeal shows a worrying pattern of disregard for court decisions and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Reactions from lawyers and civil rights advocates
Sowore’s legal representatives have condemned the incident, describing it as an assault on both their client and the integrity of the judiciary.
A member of his legal team, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:
“It is unacceptable that after a court of competent jurisdiction granted bail, the police would take the law into their own hands and rearrest him without any documented justification. This is a violation of his constitutional rights.”
Several human rights organizations, including the Take It Back Movement and the Coalition for Revolution (CORE), have also called for Sowore’s immediate release, urging the Inspector General of Police to investigate the officers involved.
Police yet to issue official statement
As of the time of writing, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had not issued an official statement regarding the alleged assault and re-arrest. Attempts by journalists to reach the FCT Police Command for comment were unsuccessful.
However, sources within the force suggested that the officers may have been acting on what they described as a “fresh directive” related to the ongoing investigation into the protest.
Observers have urged the police authorities to clarify the situation publicly to avoid further tension and to uphold public confidence in the justice system.
Growing calls for accountability
The incident has reignited public debate over the treatment of activists and the state of civil liberties in Nigeria. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to demand transparency and accountability, using hashtags such as #FreeSowore and #JusticeForSowore to call for his release.
As pressure mounts, rights groups say the case could serve as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting freedom of expression — fundamental pillars of any democratic society.
