In a strongly worded statement issued Thursday evening, Atiku Abubakar accused Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun of weaponizing state institutions to pursue a personal vendetta under the pretense of law enforcement.
Atiku Slams IGP Over Sowore’s Arrest, Demands Immediate Release
Abuja, Nigeria – August 8, 2025
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly condemned the arrest and continued detention of activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore, describing the incident as a “shameful abuse of power” by the Nigeria Police Force.
In a sharply worded statement issued on Thursday evening, Atiku accused the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of weaponizing the police force to pursue a personal vendetta under the guise of law enforcement.
“The treatment of @YeleSowore 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,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President outlined disturbing details of Sowore’s ordeal, alleging that the activist was violently attacked at dawn by police officers acting on a petition linked to the IGP’s office. According to Atiku, Sowore was beaten, brutalised, had his arm broken, and was even sprayed with chemicals before being whisked away to an undisclosed location.
“Sowore’s only offence is speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule. This is personal vendetta—not policing. Even the Nigeria Police Regulation forbids this abuse of authority,” he said.
Atiku cited Police Regulation 367, which clearly prohibits officers from initiating legal proceedings in matters where they have personal interest or conflict.
“The IGP cannot simultaneously be a complainant and deploy state machinery to pursue a personal grievance. This is not just about Sowore; it is an attack on every Nigerian who dares to speak truth to power,” Atiku declared.
He demanded Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that continued state repression of dissenters would only worsen Nigeria’s democratic crisis.
“This must stop. Sowore should be released immediately—without conditions,” he concluded.
⚖️ Background: Assault and Detention
According to earlier reports by SaharaReporters, Sowore was arrested after voluntarily honouring a police invitation on August 6, 2025. However, on Thursday morning, at least eight officers, led by a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), allegedly assaulted him while attempting to forcibly take him to court.
Sowore was said to have requested legal representation and a chance to change his clothes before leaving, but the officers reportedly refused. During the struggle, his arm was allegedly broken.
He was then secretly transferred from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, where he had been detained the previous day, to an unknown location.
Despite growing public outcry, the police have yet to issue an official statement addressing the incident or clarifying the charges against Sowore.
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