Human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of engaging in what he described as “a murder plot in disguise” against activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, Temokun alleged that the events following Sowore’s invitation to the Force Headquarters by the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Monitoring Team amounted to “state terrorism” rather than lawful policing.
According to the statement, Sowore was invited by the police on August 6, 2025, over what Temokun described as “phantom allegations” linked to his criticisms of IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s prolonged tenure in office. Sowore reportedly honoured the invitation but was detained overnight.
The lawyer claimed that in the early hours of Thursday, Sowore was violently moved to an undisclosed location, during which his right arm was dislocated and severely injured. He further alleged that noxious gas was released into the cell where Sowore was initially held before being transferred to an underground facility.
“These are not accidents, negligence, or incompetence,” Temokun said. “They are deliberate attempts on his health, his life, and his dignity.”
Temokun compared the incident to past cases involving late human rights icon Gani Fawehinmi and presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, both of whom suffered health complications allegedly caused by toxic substances during detention.
“The Nigeria Police Force has now descended from being a constitutional law enforcement body to becoming an execution squad for the enemies of democracy,” the lawyer declared.
He demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, a public apology from the police, and warned that any harm to the activist would be fully accounted for both in law and in public opinion.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official response to the allegations.
