Daniel Ezekiel Detention: 57 Civil Society Groups Demand Police Reveal Who Ordered His Arrest, Probe Allegations Against Niger Delta Powerbrokers

By Passman Akpos

ABUJA — Pressure is mounting on the Nigeria Police Force over the reported detention of Niger Delta human-rights defender Daniel Ezekiel, as 57 civil society organisations, human-rights groups and community advocacy organisations have demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

The coalition has also called for an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into serious allegations of unlawful detention, torture, forced labour and intimidation which Ezekiel has publicly attributed to powerful individuals and entities operating in the Niger Delta.

In a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, under the title “57 Civil Society Groups Demand an Immediate End to the Illegal Detention of Daniel Ezekiel — Freedom of Expression Is Not a Crime,” the organisations condemned the activist’s arrest and detention.

The groups demanded that the Nigeria Police Force publicly disclose the legal basis for Ezekiel’s arrest, identify the officers involved and explain under whose authority the operation was carried out.

How Daniel Ezekiel Was Arrested

According to the coalition, Ezekiel was reportedly taken from his home in Life Camp, Abuja, on Friday, September 18, 2026, by men whose identities and authority he allegedly could not independently verify.

The groups said he was subsequently held at the Agwa Cement Police Station and is currently being held at the Force CID in Abuja.

As of the date of the coalition’s statement, the groups said no criminal charge had been publicly disclosed against Ezekiel.

The coalition said the circumstances surrounding the arrest raised serious questions about the legality and authority behind the operation.

The arrest reportedly came about two weeks after a petition dated September 3, 2026, allegedly filed by lawyers representing businessman Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh before the Inspector-General of Police and the National Cybercrime Centre.

According to the coalition, the petition alleged that Ezekiel and another individual published defamatory Facebook posts in late August.

The groups stressed that the allegations contained in the petition remain untested and that Ezekiel is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Coalition Raises Alarm Over Niger Delta Allegations

The 57 organisations also turned their attention to allegations Ezekiel has made over several months concerning activities in the Niger Delta.

According to the coalition, Ezekiel has publicly alleged that he witnessed unlawful detention, torture, forced labour and intimidation allegedly involving Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and individuals he claims are linked to him and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The coalition said Ezekiel had submitted petitions to national and international human-rights organisations, security agencies and government institutions.

It further stated that he had alleged the existence of private detention facilities in the Niger Delta where, according to his claims, torture, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and forced labour take place.

The coalition said Ezekiel claims to have backed his allegations with photographs, audio and video recordings as well as testimonies from alleged victims and their families.

However, these allegations remain claims that require independent investigation and have not been established as facts by a competent court.

The coalition argued that allegations of torture and forced labour are sufficiently serious to warrant formal investigation.

«“These serious allegations of torture and forced labor require a formal investigation. In a functioning democracy, raising such concerns should prompt an inquiry, not the arrest of the individual who reported them.”»

“Whose Interests Is The System Protecting?”

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Juwon Sanwolu, Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), questioned the implications of detaining an individual who has raised allegations of alleged wrongdoing.

«“When a whistleblower is detained before the allegations he raised are examined, the public is left to ask whose interests the system is protecting,” Sanwolu said.»

The coalition said the central issue should be whether the allegations raised by Ezekiel can be independently investigated and whether any evidence exists to substantiate or disprove them.

Groups Cite Constitutional Rights

The organisations cited Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in arguing that citizens are protected against arbitrary arrest and detention.

They also cited Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 19 of the ICCPR, which protect freedom of expression.

The coalition argued that alleged defamation should ordinarily be addressed through lawful procedures and expressed concern about the use of cybercrime provisions against critics and human-rights defenders.

The groups further referred to previous decisions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice concerning Nigeria’s cyberstalking provisions and freedom of expression.

The coalition warned that if security agencies are perceived as being used to settle private disputes involving activists, critics or human-rights defenders, it could have wider consequences for citizens who expose alleged wrongdoing.

Five Demands To The Nigerian Government And Police

The coalition issued five major demands:

1. Immediate release:

The Nigeria Police Force must release Daniel Ezekiel immediately and unconditionally.

2. Disclosure of arrest authority:

The Inspector-General of Police must publicly disclose the legal basis for the arrest, the identities of the officers involved and the police unit handling the petition.

3. Access to legal and personal support:

Ezekiel must have immediate access to his lawyers, family and any required medical care, while his physical safety must be guaranteed.

4. Independent investigation:

The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission, must ensure an independent and impartial investigation into allegations of torture, unlawful detention and forced labour raised by Ezekiel, with protection for witnesses and complainants.

5. Transparent process:

All parties involved should submit to lawful and transparent processes and must not use security agencies as instruments of intimidation.

The organisations said they would continue monitoring the matter and were prepared to mobilise national and international mechanisms, including the United Nations and African human-rights systems, if Ezekiel is not released and the allegations he raised are not investigated.

57 Organisations Sign Statement

The statement was signed by the following organisations:

1. Take It Back Movement (TIB)

2. Sterling Law Centre

3. Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria

4. Law Hub Development and Advocacy Centre

5. Amnesty International Nigeria

6. Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR)

7. Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO)

8. Social Justice Advocacy Initiative

9. Center For Social Justice

10. Nigeria Observatory For Human Rights

11. Revolutionary Socialist Movement

12. Social Action

13. United Action For Democracy

14. Legal Defence Against Injustice Initiative

15. Access to Justice

16. Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA)

17. International Human Rights and Equity Defense Foundation (I-REF), Anambra State

18. Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation (SIAF), Lagos

19. Network On Police Reform In Nigeria

20. Civic Media Lab

21. Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD)

22. Vision Spring Initiative

23. Human Rights Liberties Access And Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE)

24. African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)

25. Centre for Environment, Human Rights, and Development (CEHRD)

26. Centre for Citizens Right

27. Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation

28. Justice for Peace and Development Initiative, Lagos

29. Legal Resources Consortium, Lagos

30. Bauchi Human Rights Network

31. Edo Civil Society Organisations

32. Adopt A Goal For Development

33. Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution

34. The Art and Civic Table

35. Free Nigeria Coalition

36. Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF)

37. Women’s Right to Education Programme

38. Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI)

39. Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)

40. International Press Centre (IPC)

41. Alliances for Africa

42. Vision Spring Initiatives

43. Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (CCHR)

44. Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)

45. Foundation for Livelihood Advancement

46. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative

47. Crime Victims Foundation

48. The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS)

49. Enugu State Civil Society Coalition

50. Akwa Ibom Human Rights Coalition

51. Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights and Development Advancement (FoCEHRaDA)

52. Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF)

53. Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS)

54. International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative

55. Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD)

56. Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN)

57. Renaissance Group

The Bigger Questions

The intervention by the 57 organisations has brought renewed attention to Ezekiel’s detention, the petition reportedly filed against him and the wider allegations he has made concerning alleged human-rights violations in the Niger Delta.

The controversy also follows separate allegations by Niger Delta figure Engr. Jude Gbaboyor, who claimed that the September 18 operation involving Ezekiel was initially intended to be an abduction and that Oporoza in Gbaramatu Kingdom was allegedly the intended destination.

Those claims have not been independently verified.

There is currently no verified evidence establishing that Tompolo ordered, authorised or participated in Ezekiel’s arrest, or that there was a plan to kill him.

Similarly, the existence of a police petition against Ezekiel does not establish his guilt, while Ezekiel’s allegations against other individuals do not by themselves establish wrongdoing.

Both matters require evidence, investigation and, where applicable, judicial determination.

The key questions now before the authorities include: Who ordered Daniel Ezekiel’s arrest? What is the precise legal basis for his detention? Which police unit is handling the case? What offences are being investigated? And will the serious allegations raised by Ezekiel receive an independent investigation?

The 57-member coalition says it will continue monitoring the situation and is prepared to escalate the matter through national and international human-rights mechanisms.

Tarakirivoice will continue to monitor developments and publish verified responses from the Nigeria Police Force, Daniel Ezekiel’s lawyers, Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and other relevant parties.