Police brutalise, arrest Sowore for organising ‘crossover protest’

Activist publisher and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has been arrested in Abuja.

Sowore and other activists were arrested while carrying out a procession to mark the New Year.

The activists were almost done with their “crossover” procession when about seven loaded vans of the Nigerian security forces swooped on them, brutalising everyone at sight.

Eyewitnesses say police officers suspected to be the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) stormed Gudu junction in Abuja, wounding Sowore before whisking him away with other activists from the location.

They were taken to Abattoir police station of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Abuja, where they are, according to Sahara Reporters, currently being tortured and detained.

According to sources cited by Sahara Reporters, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2019 elections was severely injured by the policemen.

Sowore could not be reached Friday morning. Efforts to contact him via his mobile proved abortive, suggesting that his phones must have been seized or put off. Others who were arrested with him could not also be reached for comments as of press time.

Those who last spoke with him confirmed they were taken to the Abattoir police station, Lokogoma, Abuja.

“Sowore, Sanyaolu Juwon, Michael and two others are currently detained at Abattoir Police Station, Abuja. Sowore is currently bleeding from the nose as the officers brutalised him,” a source is quoted to have said.

“The comrades were almost done with their crossover protest when about seven loaded vans of the Nigerian military swooped on them, brutalising everyone at sight.

“Sowore was particularly singled out for torture by the security operatives, who gave him a bloodied nose before whisking him away.”