Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the reported assault and detention of human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Team, describing the action as a shameful abuse of power.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, made this statement on Thursday through his verified Facebook page, characterizing the treatment of Sowore as "shameful, unlawful, and a personal vendetta."
According to reports, Sowore was allegedly attacked by police officers at dawn after honoring a police invitation regarding a petition reportedly from the IGP's office. During the incident, he was beaten, had his arm broken, and was sprayed with chemicals.
In his statement, Atiku emphasized that Sowore's only offense was speaking out against injustice, corruption, and bad leadership in Nigeria. The former Vice President further criticized the IGP for acting as both complainant and enforcer.
"No police officer shall institute any legal proceeding in his own personal interest or in connection with matters arising out of his public duties," Atiku stated. "The IGP cannot be a complainant and still deploy the force to carry out his grievance."
The former Vice President warned that the incident represents more than just an attack on Sowore. "This is not just about Sowore. It is an attack on every Nigerian who speaks the truth. It must stop," he declared, while demanding Sowore's immediate and unconditional release.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with civil society groups also joining calls for Sowore's release. Reports indicate that Sowore's right hand was broken while in police detention, raising serious concerns about human rights violations by law enforcement agencies.
Legal experts have weighed in on the matter, with some arguing that Sowore's detention is unlawful and that his alleged offense is bailable under Nigerian law.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also demanded an end to what they described as "unending arrests" and called for Sowore's immediate release from detention.
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