BREAKING: Police Investigators Accused Of Manhandling Sowore During Interrogation At Force Headquarters

A team of police investigators interrogating human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has been accused of manhandling him during an attempt to conduct a physical search inside the holding room where he was being questioned.

Sources told SaharaReporters that a confrontation broke out after Sowore objected to the search, prompting a heated exchange.

The officers allegedly resorted to manhandling, shoving, and wrestling with the activist in the presence of his lawyers.

Tensions escalated as the police reportedly threatened and attempted to intimidate Sowore during the standoff.

He also demanded that the police produce the original copy of the petition alleging forgery against him, a request that further angered the officers.

The police operatives were said to be visibly irritated by Sowore’s insistence on due process and refusal to submit to the search without proper documentation.

As of the time of this report, the police had yet to release Sowore, instead informing him to wait for the arrival of a Deputy Inspector General of Police—raising concerns among his legal team that this may be a delay tactic to detain him further.

Meanwhile, more supporters of the activist have vowed to stage a protest at the Force Headquarters if attempts are made to detain him beyond the legally permissible period.

The Nigerian police have come under widespread criticism, with many Nigerians condemning the ongoing interrogation and alleged harassment of Sowore as an act of persecution for his role in exposing corruption within the force.

Background

Initially, Sowore was asked to appear before the IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja on August 4, 2025, over allegations of forgery and inciting disturbance.

He refused to comply, citing the invitation as legally invalid. The letter referenced a non-existent law—Section 53(2) of the “ACJA 2025”—and an offence not recognised under Nigerian criminal law.

Sowore demanded a properly signed summons and a copy of the petition before he would consider showing up.

After public backlash and Sowore’s refusal, the police reissued a corrected invitation on August 5, dropping the “inciting disturbance” charge and replacing it with criminal defamation alongside forgery.

The new letter was addressed to his lawyer and scheduled the meeting for August 6 at 11:30 a.m., promising to provide the petition copy in person.

He confirmed he would honour the revised invitation—but not quietly. He called on “freedom fighters” and “voices of resistance” to accompany him to the Force Headquarters.

The police invitation follows Sowore’s involvement in a protest by retired officers and his accusation that a police cameraman stole his Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses.

This episode adds another layer to Sowore’s long-standing friction with Nigerian authorities.