Police: Sowore’s torture claims false, bandage was his personal property

The Nigeria Police Force has refuted allegations that Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, was tortured or subjected to inhuman treatment while in custody.

Sowore arrived at the police headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja to honour an invitation from the inspector-general of police (IGP) monitoring unit over a petition. He was subsequently taken into custody and detained until his release on Friday.

Abayomi Shogunle, the commissioner of police for the special intervention squad, said Sowore was arrested and detained after he allegedly refused to make a statement over allegations of forgery and cyberbullying against him.

Sowore had alleged that some police officers manhandled him and broke his arm while he was being taken to court.

But in a statement on Friday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, described claims that the security agency tortured the activist as “equally false and grossly misleading”.

Adejobi said the police maintain a zero-tolerance policy on torture, in accordance with the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and Nigeria’s commitments under international human rights conventions.

The police addressed a viral image showing Sowore with a bandage, saying it was “mischievously presented to mislead the public and stir unwarranted outrage”.

Adejobi clarified that the bandage was part of Sowore’s personal belongings when he honoured the police invitation.

He said upon learning that Sowore was seen wearing the bandage while in detention, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), ordered an internal investigation to determine how he accessed it.

The police also claimed that Sowore consistently refused medical examinations by independent police medical teams.

“The viral image of Mr. Sowore with a bandage has been mischievously presented to mislead the public and stir unwarranted outrage,” the statement reads.

“For the record, the bandage was part of his personal belongings at the time he honoured the police’s invitation—prior to his arrest and detention.

“In any case, upon receiving the report that Mr. Sowore was later seen wearing the bandage while in custody, the Inspector-General of Police promptly ordered an internal investigation to ascertain how he had access to it during detention—particularly in light of his consistent refusal to undergo medical examination by the independent teams deployed by the police.”

He said a medical team led by the medical director of Muhammadu Buhari police hospital was dispatched on August 7 to examine Sowore, but he declined.

Adejobi said a second team led by the force medical officer was sent on August 8 and access was again denied, adding that these refusals have been officially documented.

“In the spirit of accountability and transparency, the force promptly responded to the claims of brutality by dispatching a medical team—led by the Medical Director of the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital—to conduct an independent examination on 7th August 2025. Mr. Sowore declined the evaluation,” the statement added.

“A second medical team, this time led by the force medical officer, was sent on 8th August 2025, and again, access was denied by the suspect. These refusals are officially documented.

“While the police respect the individual’s right to decline medical assessment, the record must show that the opportunity for independent medical verification was twice provided and twice rejected.”