BREAKING: Nigerian Police Spread Rumour Of AGF's Order To Release Sowore To Douse Tension Ahead Of Friday Protest Over Activist's Detention

There were widespread rumours on Thursday evening that Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had ordered the release of detained human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore has been in police custody since Wednesday after honouring an invitation by the police authorities.

However, sources informed SaharaReporters that the rumoured directive from the AGF was a strategic ploy by the police to calm public outrage and dissuade civil society groups from going ahead with a planned protest on Friday.

“They are worried about tomorrow’s (Friday) planned protest and trying to douse it, so they are pushing rumours that the AGF has ordered Sowore’s release from detention,” one source said.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters gathered that after Sowore was forcibly relocated from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) on Thursday, he was transferred to the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) facility at Old Abattoir in Abuja. There, he was detained alongside suspected killer herdsmen.

“On Friday, Sowore was kept in the cell with killer Fulani herdsmen at the IRT,” a source disclosed.

This followed an earlier report that Sowore was assaulted by at least eight police officers, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), early Thursday morning.

Despite sustaining injuries, he was denied medical treatment. Later, when a police nurse was brought in, Sowore reportedly rejected the offer, insisting he would only accept care from his personal doctor.

“After he was assaulted by no fewer than eight police officers led by a CSP (Chief Superintendent of Police) early Thursday morning, and denied medical care, they later took a police nurse to him but he rejected the person outright telling them he has his personal doctor,” a source said.

Following the controversial detention of Sowore, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Friday, August 8, 2025.

The protest is in response to what the group describes as Sowore’s “unlawful detention” and the “politically motivated harassment” by the Nigeria Police Force.

Sowore was detained on Wednesday after honouring a police summons at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The police cited allegations of forgery and inciting public disturbance, but his supporters argue that the summons lacked legal clarity, especially as one the petitions emanated from the office of IGP.

His detention was further marred by reports that he was forcibly moved from custody early Thursday morning, during which he sustained a hand injury.

In a statement signed by TIB National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, the group condemned the police’s actions and called on Nigerians—students, workers, civil society groups, and “men and women of conscience”—to mobilise for mass action.

The protest is expected to span multiple cities, with demonstrators threatening to occupy police commands nationwide until Sowore is released.

The protest is not only a demand for Sowore’s freedom but also a broader call against the use of state institutions to suppress dissent.

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Action Congress (AAC), Femi Adeyeye, echoed the sentiment, urging Nigerians to resist what he called “a creeping authoritarianism.”

The protest is likely to draw significant attention, given Sowore’s history of activism and the growing frustration over perceived abuses of power by law enforcement.

Civil rights groups and opposition figures have also called for the immediate release of the activist.