The Nigeria Police Force has denied allegations that human rights activist Omoyele Sowore was tortured in custody, calling the claims “grossly misleading.” A police statement clarified that a bandage seen on Sowore in a viral image was his personal property and that he twice refused medical evaluations while detained.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore that he was tortured while in custody, stating that the viral image of him with a bandage was misleading.
Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, was detained from Wednesday to Friday after allegedly refusing to make a statement over accusations of forgery and cyberbullying.
According to police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force has a “zero-tolerance policy on torture” and the bandage seen on Sowore’s arm was part of his personal belongings when he arrived.
Adejobi clarified that an internal investigation was launched by the Inspector-General of Police to determine how Sowore accessed the bandage while in detention. The police also noted that Sowore twice refused medical examinations by independent police teams on August 7 and 8.