- Police said a viral photo of Sowore with a bandage was intended to mislead the public and cause unnecessary outrage.
- Adejobi confirmed the inspector-general ordered a probe into how Sowore accessed the bandage during detention despite medical refusals.
The Nigeria Police Force has rejected allegations that human rights campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, suffered torture or degrading treatment during his recent detention.
Sowore visited the police headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday after being invited by the inspector-general’s monitoring unit over a petition.
Following his arrival, he was taken into custody and released two days later on Friday.
According to the commissioner of police for the special intervention squad, Abayomi Shogunle, the activist was arrested for allegedly refusing to make a statement on claims of forgery and cyberbullying.
While in custody, Sowore accused some officers of rough-handling him and breaking his arm on the way to court.
The police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, countered the allegation in a Friday statement, describing it as “equally false and grossly misleading.”
Adejobi said the police operate a zero-tolerance policy on torture in line with the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and global human rights obligations.
He addressed an online photo of Sowore wearing a bandage, claiming it was “mischievously presented to mislead the public and stir unwarranted outrage.”
According to Adejobi, the bandage was among Sowore’s personal effects when he honoured the police invitation.
The inspector-general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an internal inquiry to determine how the bandage was worn while Sowore was in detention.
Adejobi alleged that Sowore refused to undergo examination by medical teams assigned by the police.
“For the record, the bandage was part of his personal belongings at the time he honoured the police’s invitation — prior to his arrest and detention,” the statement read.
“In any case, upon receiving the report that Mr Sowore was later seen wearing the bandage while in custody, the Inspector-General of Police promptly ordered an internal investigation to ascertain how he had access to it during detention — particularly in light of his consistent refusal to undergo medical examination by the independent teams deployed by the police.”
Adejobi said the first attempt to examine Sowore was on August 7 when a team led by the medical director of Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital was deployed.
The second visit, he explained, came on August 8 when the force medical officer led another team, but access was denied again.
He said the two refusals had been officially recorded by the police.
“While the police respect the individual’s right to decline medical assessment, the record must show that the opportunity for independent medical verification was twice provided and twice rejected,” the statement added.