Amnesty International Condemns Ongoing Harassment of Omoyele Sowore, Urges Nigerian Authorities to End Crackdown on Activists
By Passman Akpos
Abuja, Nigeria — Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to immediately halt what it described as the “relentless and reckless intimidation and harassment” of human rights defender and journalist Omoyele Sowore, as well as other activists who have been exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, the global human rights organization condemned recent incidents of police assault and intimidation against Sowore, noting that this is the second time in 2025 that the activist has been physically attacked by security operatives.
> “The Nigerian authorities must end the relentless and reckless intimidation and harassment of human rights defender Omoyele Sowore and other activists who have been exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” Amnesty International said.
“This is the second time the police assaulted Sowore this year. In August, the police injured his right arm while trying to transfer him to a secret location by force.”
Amnesty International criticized the Nigeria Police Force for what it described as a pattern of human rights violations, including the targeting of activists, journalists, and whistleblowers. The organization demanded an immediate end to such actions, which it said undermine Nigeria’s democratic values and international human rights obligations.
> “The Nigeria Police must end its frequent violations of human rights through targeting of activists and undermining the right to freedom of assembly,” the statement added.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government must end the weaponization of security agents to harass, intimidate, and abuse critics, human rights activists, journalists, and whistleblowers, and instead uphold the human rights of everyone in the country.”
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of the news platform Sahara Reporters, has long been an outspoken critic of government corruption and authoritarianism. He has faced multiple arrests and detentions since 2019, often linked to his role in organizing protests demanding better governance and respect for civil liberties.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations in Nigeria have echoed Amnesty International’s concerns, calling on the government to protect, rather than persecute, citizens who speak out against injustice.
Despite repeated assurances by the Tinubu administration to respect fundamental freedoms, critics say the continued harassment of activists and journalists raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to human rights and democratic reform.
