The Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) has issued a scathing condemnation of the Nigeria Police Force following reports of the brutal assault and unlawful detention of journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters. In a press release signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Yahaya Kana Ismaila, OMPAN described the alleged actions as a “gross violation of fundamental human rights” and a direct assault on press freedom and democratic principles .
According to eyewitness reports and documentation from Amnesty International, Sowore sustained severe injuriesâincluding a broken armâduring a violent confrontation with police operatives at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred when officers allegedly attempted to forcibly transfer him to court without notifying his legal counsel, a blatant violation of due process . Sowore had presented himself voluntarily at police headquarters to answer an invitation over allegations of “forgery and inciting disturbance,” only to be detained under questionable circumstances .
OMPAN characterized Soworeâs treatment as part of a “disturbing pattern of growing impunity” against journalists and dissenting voices in Nigeria. The association highlighted Soworeâs history of arbitrary detentions since 2019, when Amnesty International first declared him a Prisoner of Conscience . The current charges have been widely criticized as “bogus and politically motivated” by human rights organizations .
The press release emphasized that Soworeâs treatment violates multiple provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including:
– Section 34 (Right to Dignity): Brutal physical assault causing bodily harm
– Section 35 (Right to Personal Liberty): Unlawful detention without transparent charges
– Section 39 (Freedom of Expression): Targeting a journalist for critical reporting
OMPANâs statement calls for:
1. Immediate release of Sowore without conditions
2. Independent investigation into the brutality allegations
3. Accountability for officers involved in the assault
4. End to weaponization of law enforcement against critics
The association warned that silencing journalists threatens Nigeriaâs democratic foundations, noting that Soworeâs case exemplifies systemic issues documented for yearsâincluding police brutality, corruption, and abuse of power . OMPAN reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom and vowed to “resist any attempt to silence critical voices” through strategic partnerships and legal advocacy .
