Officers who assaulted, threatened Sowore should be punished – IPAC petitions IGP

The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has written the Inspector General of Police over alleged assault and threat to life of the National Chairman of African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore by men and officers of the force while he was in the police custody.

Sowore, a human right activist and presidential candidate of the AAC in the 2023 presidential election, was arrested after he honoured an invitation at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

He was released on Friday evening. The police are yet to make public the charges against him.

IPAC in a petition signed by its national Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, and titled ‘Petition Against Your Officers and Men for threat of life, and alleged assault of Mr. Omoyele Sowore,’ said the police had once again shown itself in bad light.

“We as an Association of all registered Political Parties in Nigeria hereby write this petition on behalf of Mr. Omoyele Sowore for the events of the last few days, which has led to alleged assault on his person while in your custody,” the petition said.

“Omoyele Sowore is a Human Right Activist, the Presidential Candidate of African Action Congress, and the National Chairman of African Action Congress.

“Few days ago, he honored an invitation from your office but the events after this gentleman conduct from his part has once again painted the police in a negative light as images from the alleged assault on his person suggest a premeditated action by your men to either maim and/or kill him in detention

“That the conduct of your officers and men is a violation of his Fundamental Human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

“That the officers and men who committed the egregious acts of the alleged assault and attempt on his life should be dismissed and prosecuted.

“Finally, we demand that should your investigation reveal that he committed any offence, he should be charged to court, as against the unconstitutional act of detaining him beyond the time allowed by the Constitution. “