Human rights activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has lashed out at the Nigeria Police Force, describing it as an “irresponsible organisation” following his release from four days in detention.
Sowore, who was arrested last week under what he called “flimsy and politically motivated circumstances,” said his experience in custody further exposed the institutional decay and abuse of power within the police hierarchy. Speaking to journalists shortly after his release, he alleged that officers continue to detain citizens arbitrarily, act without warrants, and ignore due process.
He claimed that the authorities had failed to present any valid charge against him throughout his detention. “There was no petition, no crime, no warrant. They just decided to pick me up because they could,” he stated.
Sowore also lamented that many of the officers who maltreat citizens are themselves victims of poor training, low morale, and corruption in the system. He said, “The police as an institution has lost its soul. What you have now is a uniformed militia serving the powerful, not the people.”
Civil rights groups, including Amnesty International Nigeria and SERAP, have condemned his arrest, calling it part of a worrying pattern of intimidation against activists and critics of government policies. They urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure accountability and to uphold constitutional rights.
The police have not issued an official response, but insiders say Sowore’s arrest was linked to “security intelligence” related to public protest mobilisation. The incident has once again reignited debate about freedom of expression and civic space under Nigeria’s democracy.
