- Safiu Kehinde
Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has slammed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged physical assault of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in detention.
NPO Reported that the IGP Monitoring Team was alleged to have on Thursday morning stormed the Force Headquarters where Sowore was detained after honouring the invitation of the Force Investigation Department (FID) over the lawsuit and petition filed against him by the IGP.
The team had allegedly forcefully evacuated Sowore from the headquarters, breaking his arm in the process while transferring him to an undisclosed location.
Reacting in a statement issued on his X handle, Atiku condemned the assault on the activist.
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate described the attack on Sowore as a personal vendetta orchestrated by Egbetokun while labelling his lawsuit against the Sahara Reporters publisher as unlawful as it is forbidden by the Nigeria Police Regulation.
“The treatment of Omoyele Sowore by the IGP Monitoring Team is a shameful abuse of power. It is wrong, unlawful, and must be condemned by all who believe in justice.
“Sowore’s only offence is speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule. For that, he was reportedly attacked at dawn, beaten, had his arm broken, and sprayed with chemicals by policemen acting on petitions from the IGP’s own office.
“This is personal vendetta, not policing.
“Even the Nigeria Police Regulation forbids this. Regulation 367 states: “No police officer shall institute any legal proceeding in his own personal interest or in connection with matters arising out of his public duties.”
“The IGP cannot be a complainant and still deploy the force to carry out his grievance.” Atiku said.
While declaring the attack on Sowore as attack on every other Nigerians, Atiku demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the activist.
“This is not about Sowore alone, it is an attack on every Nigerian who dares to speak truth to power. This must stop. And Sowore should be released immediately, and unconditionally, too.” He added.