Omoyele Sowore, a publisher and human rights advocate, came to the Force Intelligence Department Headquarters in Abuja on Monday to be questioned by police.
After uploading a viral video claiming that he had been extorted by police at a Lagos checkpoint, Sowore received an invitation from the police and arrived at 9:58 a.m.
The activist was called to respond to a number of accusations, such as hindering and resisting public officials, disobeying legal directives, cyberstalking, and actions purportedly meant to thwart arrests.
The invitation letter from the Force Intelligence Department of the Nigeria Police Force read in part:
“This office is investigating a case of resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless and negligent acts, refusal to assist public servants, and cyberstalking, in which your name featured prominently.
“You are requested to report for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), through the undersigned, at SPO’s Room 212, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, opposite Force Headquarters, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, on Monday, 27th January 2025, at 10 a.m.”
In response to the summons, a group known as the Take It Back Movement circulated a flier on social media calling for a protest against police extortion at the Force Headquarters.
The flier, which quickly gained traction on X (formerly Twitter), featured images of Sowore and the Inspector General of Police side by side, accompanied by bold red text that read, “Occupy Force Headquarters.”
By early Monday morning, heavily armed officers wearing anti-riot gear had sealed the roads leading to the Force Headquarters. The increased security presence appeared to be a precautionary response to the planned demonstration.
As of the time of filing this report, Sowore was still at the Force Intelligence Department for the scheduled interview, while the situation outside the complex remained tense but under control.
