Abuja Police Explain Continued Detention of Sowore as Protests Grow Over Refusal to Provide Statement During Interrogation

 

A tense standoff continues in Abuja between security forces and citizens demanding the release of prominent activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. The situation has drawn widespread attention after police authorities revealed the reasons behind his prolonged detention.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, addressed the matter on Friday during a press briefing attended by protesters and journalists. His explanation came amid mounting calls from civil society groups, political supporters, and human rights advocates who have taken to the streets and social media to demand Sowore’s freedom.

According to Shogunle, Sowore’s detention followed his alleged refusal to provide a formal statement during police interrogation. He disclosed that the activist was being held over two separate petitions lodged against him, each of which the police considered serious enough to warrant continued custody.

The first petition, the Commissioner explained, involved the alleged forgery of a police document. This document, which was published online, is said to have been altered from its original form. Shogunle stated that under Nigerian law, anyone accused of such an offence must explain the origin of the forged material and provide evidence to substantiate their possession of it. He maintained that Sowore had been presented with the petition in the presence of his lawyers and was given the opportunity to respond.

A second petition reportedly centered on allegations of cyberbullying. While details of the complainant’s claims were not fully disclosed during the briefing, Shogunle stressed that such allegations fall under criminal offenses that require proper investigation. He reiterated that both petitions were formally shown to Sowore during the interrogation session.

Shogunle noted that despite the presence of legal counsel, Sowore declined to make a written or oral statement. This refusal, he claimed, directly influenced the decision to keep him in custody. He further argued that Nigerian law obliges a suspect in a criminal case to present their own account when confronted with formal allegations, emphasizing that it is part of the investigative process.

The Commissioner’s remarks were broadcast live via Sahara Reporters, a platform that Sowore himself founded. The stream captured not only the official explanation but also the tense mood outside the Force Headquarters, where demonstrators gathered with placards, chanting slogans that accused the authorities of silencing dissent.

Protests have been particularly vocal online, with hashtags calling for Sowore’s release trending across multiple platforms. Activists have accused the police of weaponizing legal procedures to target a critic of government policies. They argue that the right to remain silent should not be interpreted as grounds for indefinite detention, and that the law must be applied without political bias.

Supporters of the detained activist see the allegations as part of a larger pattern of intimidation against opposition voices. Some human rights lawyers have expressed concerns that the petitions may be used as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression, particularly given Sowore’s history of organizing protests and publishing controversial exposés.

While responding to questions from reporters, Shogunle dismissed claims of political persecution. He maintained that the police were strictly following due process and acting within the scope of their constitutional mandate. He also pointed out that the petitions were not initiated by the police themselves but by private complainants who felt aggrieved by Sowore’s actions.

The ongoing detention has sparked a debate over the balance between protecting individual rights and enforcing the law in Nigeria’s democratic space. Legal experts note that while the police have the authority to detain suspects during investigations, the constitution also safeguards the right to liberty and presumption of innocence. The length of detention without formal charges, they argue, could be subject to judicial scrutiny.

Calls for mediation have begun to surface from some civil society organizations who believe that the situation can be resolved without further escalation. They have urged the police to expedite their investigation and either file charges in court or release Sowore on bail pending trial.

As night fell over Abuja on Friday, the crowd of protesters showed no signs of dispersing. Chants for justice and freedom echoed through the streets, a reflection of the broader struggle over civil liberties in the country. Whether the police will move toward a court hearing or extend their investigation remains uncertain, but public attention on the case continues to intensify.

The coming days may determine not only the immediate fate of Omoyele Sowore but also the tone of future engagements between Nigerian law enforcement agencies and outspoken activists. For now, the matter sits at the center of national debate, with both sides holding firm to their positions.