Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of lying about the treatment of former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, while in their custody.
This comes after the police released a statement on Friday denying that Sowore was tortured or injured during his recent detention. The statement claimed that a viral image showing Sowore with a bandaged arm was “mischievously presented to mislead the public and stir unwarranted outrage.”
Sowore is currently under investigation for alleged cyberstalking and other related offences.
Reacting via his official Facebook page, Adeyanju strongly refuted the police claim, insisting that the activist was indeed brutalised.
“You are a liar,” Adeyanju wrote. “The Nigeria Police, headed by the illegal IGP Egbetokun – the most useless IG in the history of the NPF – tortured Sowore and broke his hands. And you will all pay for your crimes.”
The image of Sowore with a visibly injured arm has sparked criticism from many Nigerians, especially given his long-standing history of activism and clashes with law enforcement.
Omoyele Sowore, who contested the 2019 presidential election and is the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been repeatedly arrested over the years for his vocal criticism of government policies and actions.
As of now, the police have not issued a follow-up response to Adeyanju’s statement.
