Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has revisited what he described as his ordeal in the hands of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, accusing both officials of using state institutions to suppress dissent.

In a lengthy statement released on the anniversary of his arrest during the 2025 #PoliceProtest, Sowore alleged that he was arrested on the orders of Egbetokun after leading demonstrations demanding improved welfare and better working conditions for serving and retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

https://voxnews.com.ng/sowore-haruna-gololo-kuje-prison-akpabio-allegation/

According to him, the protest was aimed at drawing attention to the plight of retired police officers whom he claimed had been abandoned by the authorities.

Sowore alleged that following his arrest, then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Akin Fakorede, supervised his interrogation and detention at the Force Intelligence Department (FID).

He further claimed that while in detention, a senior police officer allegedly assaulted him inside his cell, leaving him with a nearly broken arm.I

“The following morning, at about 6:00 a.m., a Chief Superintendent of Police was sent into my filthy cell at the Force Intelligence Department to assault me. During the attack, my arm was nearly broken,” Sowore alleged.

Despite the alleged assault, the activist insisted he remained resolute in his advocacy, adding that intimidation would not deter him from speaking against injustice.he

Sowore also accused the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, of continuing what he described as a campaign of political persecution because of his outspoken criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to him, the DSS boss initiated criminal proceedings against him over comments in which he described President Tinubu as a criminal.

He alleged that prosecutors sought his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre and later attempted to have him forcibly taken into custody at the Federal High Court after the court declined to grant certain requests.

The activist further claimed that while in detention, he was deliberately housed alongside inmates suffering from tuberculosis and that authorities also sought to confiscate his international passport through the courts.

Sowore also alleged that his assistant was detained over claims that she possessed a DJI drone.

In addition, he accused the DSS Director-General of sponsoring pro-government demonstrations in Abuja and maintaining online supporters to counter criticism of the government.

“In my view, Tosin Ajayi has become one of the most insecure Directors-General in the history of the DSS, just as Egbetokun became one of the most insecure Inspectors-General in the history of the Nigeria Police Force,” he stated.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Department of State Services had publicly responded to the fresh allegations made by Sowore.

https://tv.guardian.ng/why-the-court-of-appeals-ruling-matters-beyond-the-adc/

The allegations add to the long-running confrontation between the activist and Nigeria’s security agencies, with several legal battles and arrests having occurred over the years

Editorial Note: This report is based on allegations made publicly by Omoyele Sowore. The claims have not been independently verified, and the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the individuals mentioned had not responded at the time of publication.