In what appears to be another chapter in the long saga of state-sponsored gaslighting, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has released a defensive and carefully worded statement regarding the arrest and alleged mistreatment of activist Omoyele Sowore—but Nigerians are not convinced.
Dated August 8, 2025, and tagged with reference number CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/483, the press release—signed by Force PRO DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi—tries to reframe Sowore’s ordeal as a routine, law-abiding police procedure. But for many Nigerians, it reads like a desperate public relations move from an institution neck-deep in credibility problems.
---
🧾 POLICE PRESS RELEASE: LOTS OF WORDS, LITTLE TRUTH
“The Nigeria Police Force is compelled to address and decisively correct the recent wave of disinformation being peddled…”
So begins a 1,000-word explanation that essentially accuses Mr. Sowore of “weaponizing propaganda” and paints the Police as victims of unfair scrutiny. The document claims Sowore was arrested on "credible" allegations of forgery and cyberstalking, detained lawfully, and treated with dignity.
They also emphatically denied torture:
“The Nigeria Police Force maintains a zero-tolerance policy for torture…”
But this claim directly contradicts public perception and lived experience.
---
🗣️ NIGERIANS REACT: SAME POLICE, SAME TACTICS
Ask the average Nigerian on the street about the police, and the answer is almost universal: "We don't trust them."
From routine harassment at checkpoints to the unlawful detention and extortion of citizens, the NPF has earned its reputation—not because of public manipulation, but because of decades of unaccountable behavior.
So when the Police say:
“Equally false and grossly misleading is the narrative suggesting that Mr. Sowore was tortured…”
Nigerians respond: "We’ve seen this movie before."
Photos of Sowore with a bandaged arm quickly went viral, sparking public outrage. The Police then claimed:
“The bandage was part of his personal belongings at the time he honoured the Police’s invitation…”
How does a person walk into custody already bandaged up from an injury the Police claim they had nothing to do with—yet the IGP launched an “internal investigation” to determine how he had access to it in custody?
The contradictions are insulting.
---
🩺 MEDICAL EVALUATION OR MEDIA THEATRE?
The Police also wrote:
“An independent medical team… was dispatched on 7th August… Mr. Sowore declined the evaluation.”
This is presented as proof of transparency—but Nigerians know the routine. Offer "medical care" only after damage has been done, and when the victim refuses (likely due to distrust), use that to deflect responsibility.
---
⚖️ COURT ORDERS AND LEGAL BACKDROPS — ALWAYS AFTER THE FACT
The Police insist that Sowore's detention is "not arbitrary" because of a remand order from a competent court.
But Nigerians have repeatedly seen how court orders are either ignored or obtained after unlawful detentions. The law is used not as a tool of justice but as a weapon of cover-up—especially when high-profile critics of the government are involved.
---
📢 WHAT THE POLICE REFUSE TO HEAR: PUBLIC TRUST IS DEAD
The final paragraph of the statement reads:
“Sensationalism, particularly when driven by those with personal vendettas… poses a clear risk to public trust…”
But the real threat to public trust is not the media. It’s the daily abuse, arrogance, and unrepentant dishonesty of the Nigeria Police Force.
From #EndSARS to Lekki, to the beatings of innocent youth, to targeted arrests of activists, the people have seen enough. The Police are not victims of false narratives. They are victims of their own unchecked power.
No press release can change that.
---
✍🏽 STONE REPORTERS: WHAT NIGERIANS DEMAND
In light of the disturbing pattern of state-sanctioned intimidation and police deflection, we at Stone Reporters News call for:
1. An independent judicial panel to review Sowore’s arrest, detention, and reported injuries.
2. Immediate release of CCTV footage during the period of his custody.
3. A stop to the demonization of critics and media voices asking uncomfortable questions.
4. True police reform beyond empty declarations and overused buzzwords.
Until then, the Nigerian people will continue to view press releases like this one as exactly what they are:
Official excuses from an institution long estranged from the truth.
---
🗞️ Read independent, people-driven reporting at: www.stonereportersnews.com
📍Follow breaking stories and investigations via Facebook: Stone Reports
— Stone Reporters Editorial Desk
Add comment
Comments