Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has been released from police custody, following an intense outcry by civil society groups, legal representatives, and his supporters across the country.
Sowore was reportedly taken from his cell at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja in the early hours of Thursday by a team of nine officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police. The officers, mostly armed, forcibly removed him under the guise of taking him to court. In the process, Sowore was manhandled and suffered a broken arm when he requested to see the charges against him and contact his legal team.
The arrest and reported assault drew swift condemnation online, especially under the trending hashtag #EgbetokunMustGo, targeting the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Public outrage intensified with calls for accountability and Sowore’s immediate release.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after his release, Sowore confirmed the development, stating: “The Nigeria Police Force and its illegal IGP has capitulated to the demands of the revolutionary movement. I have been released from unjust, unwarranted & unlawful detention.” He acknowledged the solidarity of Nigerians, saying, “It is nothing to celebrate, but I can’t do without thanking you all for not giving up. You’ve all seen the power of unity.”
Omoyele Sowore’s release marks another chapter in his continued clashes with state authorities over issues of civil liberties, police accountability, and freedom of expression. His statement reaffirmed the ongoing relevance of the #RevolutionNow movement, which he has led since 2019 to demand systemic reforms in Nigeria.
