Amnesty International Condemns Violent Attempt to Forcibly Drag Sowore to Court

Amnesty International has raised alarm over a violent incident involving Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who was reportedly subjected to forceful and unlawful treatment by police officers earlier today.

According to a statement issued by the human rights organization on Thursday, Sowore sustained a serious injury to his left hand during a failed attempt by the police to forcibly drag him from his detention cell to a court appearance at approximately 6:00 a.m.

The activist has since been taken to an undisclosed location, raising further concerns about his safety and well-being.

“We have received deeply disturbing reports of a violent attempt to forcibly remove Sowore from his cell without due legal process. He was injured in the process and is now being held in an unknown location,” Amnesty International stated.

The organization urged the Nigerian authorities to immediately rein in the police and ensure that Sowore receives proper medical attention without delay.

It further emphasized that dragging an individual to court without access to legal representation constitutes a clear violation of the right to fair trial and due process under Nigerian and international law.

“Nigerian authorities must call the police to order and halt any further physical harm on Sowore. Attempting to drag him to a judicial process without recourse to his lawyer is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” Amnesty said.

The rights group called on the government to uphold its constitutional and international obligations by ensuring the protection of detainees and adherence to lawful procedures in all judicial matters.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from the Nigerian Police Force regarding the allegations.