Youth Rising: National Youth Alliance Condemns Police Brutality, Demands Justice for Sowore.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

On August 7, 2025, Nigeria witnessed yet another shameful chapter in its long, troubling history of state-sponsored violence against dissenters. Comrade Omoyele Sowore, a globally recognized human rights activist, journalist and former presidential candidate, was brutalized by members of the Nigerian Police Force. HIS CRIME? Daring to speak truth to power. The National Youth Alliance has condemned this act of impunity in the STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS, calling it what it truly is: a naked act of political violence meant to intimidate and silence a defiant voice in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

According to verified reports, Sowore was invited to the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit only to be ARRESTED, BEATEN and left with a BROKEN ARM. In a blatant violation of his fundamental rights, he was not charged immediately and reports indicate that he was denied adequate medical care. Photographs of Sowore (his arm in a sling, his face contorted in pain) circulated across social media, sparking outrage among Nigerians and the international community.

The National Youth Alliance Speaks. The National Youth Alliance, a coalition of progressive youth organizations across Nigeria, immediately condemned the attack, describing it as a “STATE-SPONSORED ACT OF TERROR”. In their statement, they demanded that Sowore be released or formally charged within 48 hours, failing which the Nigerian Police should be prepared for national and international legal consequences.

The Alliance’s spokesperson, Deborah Eze, declared: “This is no longer about Sowore alone. This is about every Nigerian youth who believes in DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE and HUMAN RIGHTS. If the state can brutalize Sowore so publicly, imagine what happens in the shadows to those who have no platform.” Their demands were clear: IMMEDIATE RELEASE or LAWFUL ARRAIGNMENT of Omoyele Sowore.

An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and physical assault.

Prosecution of officers involved in his maltreatment.

Compensation for his injuries and a public apology.

Sowore: A Symbol of Resistance. Omoyele Sowore is no stranger to state repression. He has faced MULTIPLE ARRESTS, TRAVEL BANS and DETENTIONS, often without CHARGES. His platform, Sahara Reporters, has exposed corruption at the highest levels of government, earning him enemies among Nigeria’s ruling elite. During the #RevolutionNow protests, he was arrested and held for months despite multiple court orders for his release. Amnesty International designated him a Prisoner of Conscience in 2019. And yet, Sowore has remained resolute. In his own words: “You may detain the body, but never the spirit. The fight for a better Nigeria continues.”

Global Condemnation. Human rights organizations around the world have responded with outrage. Amnesty International, in a strongly worded statement, described Sowore’s arrest and assault as a violation of international human rights norms to which Nigeria is a signatory. “The Nigerian government must end its persecution of critics and ensure justice is served.”

Human Rights Watch echoed this sentiment, warning that Nigeria is fast becoming a pariah state where dissent is treated as treason. The UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, noted: “A democracy cannot flourish when journalists and activists are targeted for doing their jobs. Sowore’s case is emblematic of the shrinking civic space in Nigeria.”

Domestic Fury. Within Nigeria, condemnation has come from across the political and social spectrum. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar blasted the government, stating: “This is not law enforcement. This is a vendetta. Sowore’s persecution sends a dangerous message: that the state is above the law.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), under Comrade Joe Ajaero, demanded Sowore’s immediate release and called for nationwide protests if the government failed to comply. “We are not in a police state,” Ajaero asserted. “We cannot and will not allow this dictatorship to continue unchecked.”

Civil society groups including Enough Is Enough Nigeria (EiE), SERAP, and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) have also mobilized protests and legal petitions, insisting that justice must prevail.

The Legal Perspective. Legal scholars and constitutional experts have weighed in, noting that the Nigerian Constitution (specifically Sections 34, 35, and 39) guarantees the rights to dignity, liberty and expression. Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who has previously represented Sowore, argued: “This government continues to show contempt for the rule of law. This brutality is unconstitutional and criminal.”

International legal observers have also cited Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; all of which Nigeria has ratified.

The Danger of Silence. When the government assaults a public figure like Sowore, it sends a chilling message to every citizen. It tells Nigerians that activism is a crime, that questioning power invites punishment and that justice is reserved for the few. Silence, in this case, becomes complicity. This is not just a legal issue; it is a moral and existential one. The future of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on the protection of dissent. A society where police brutality is normalized cannot claim to be democratic.

The Youth Will Not Be Silenced. This generation of Nigerian youth, unlike previous ones, refuses to cower in the face of intimidation.
The #EndSARS movement proved that they are organized, informed and ready to challenge injustice. The brutalization of Sowore has only reignited their passion.

Student unions, youth leaders and diaspora networks have begun organizing mass rallies across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and even internationally in London, Johannesburg and New York. Their message is simple: JUSTICE FOR SOWORE IS JUSTICE FOR ALL.

The Path Forward.
To restore faith in the system, the Nigerian government must:

1. Immediately suspend all officers involved pending investigation.

2. Allow Sowore full access to medical care and legal representation.

3. Engage in open dialogue with civil society to reform the security agencies.

4. Reaffirm its commitment to international human rights obligations.

Anything short of these steps is a betrayal of Nigeria’s democratic promise.

The Harsh Reality: The Battle for Nigeria’s Soul. This is more than an isolated incident. It is a test of Nigeria’s conscience. Will we allow a POLICE FORCE to operate as JUDGE, JURY and EXECUTIONER? Will we allow power to silence truth? Or will we rise; as the National Youth Alliance has done to say: ENOUGH.

Let Sowore’s bloodied arm not be in vain. Let it be the last time a Nigerian is punished for demanding justice. Let it mark the beginning of a new chapter; where truth is DEFENDED, not SUPPRESSED and where DEMOCRACY is not just a word, but a lived REALITY.

Justice for Sowore. Justice for Nigeria.

~ By George Omagbemi Sylvester