Press Statement: WYSN Condemning the Unlawful Battery, Abduction, and Detention of Omoyele Sowore and Other Activists by the Nigerian Police
Press Statement by the Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN)
Condemning the Unlawful Battery, Abduction, and Detention of Omoyele Sowore and Other Activists by the Nigerian Police
The Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN) strongly condemn the brazen rascality and lawlessness displayed by the Nigeria Police in the unlawful battery, abduction, and detention of Omoyele Sowore and other activists within the premises of an Abuja Magistrate Court. This reprehensible act, carried out shortly after the court granted bail to Sowore and his fellow activists, is a flagrant violation of the rule of law and an assault on the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
We assert that the Nigeria Police, as a statutory institution tasked with law enforcement, must uphold its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of citizens rather than engage in actions that undermine justice and democratic principles. The right to freedom of expression, including the right to dissent and protest, is a cornerstone of any democratic society and is enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights frameworks. The police must respect and uphold these rights without exception.
The brutalization and unlawful detention of Sowore and other activists represent a dangerous precedent that threatens the democratic space and the ability of citizens to hold the government accountable. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore and all activists detained in connection with this incident. Furthermore, we call for a thorough investigation into the actions of the police officers involved and appropriate sanctions for those found culpable.
The Workers and Youth Solidarity Network stands in unwavering solidarity with Omoyele Sowore and all activists who continue to courageously demand justice, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria. We urge the Nigeria Police to cease its role as an instrument of oppression and instead act as a protector of the people’s rights.
Signed,
Comrade Iortyom Ushahemba Moses
For: Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN)
October 25, 2025